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Learner driver fined for doing 36mph in a 30 zone

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  1. Snowy
    Member

    http://recombu.com/cars/articles/news/learner-driver-fined-for-doing-36mph-in-a-30-zone

    “I was shocked to find that the notification was in my name. I thought the driving instructor would have made sure that speeding didn’t happen as that’s what they are there for.”

    Doesn't sound like she was ever going to pass the theory test, then!

    But the serious point to be made is that it seems the driving instructor was quite happy to tacitly accept their pupil speeding. And, presumably, all the other pupils they teach. I'd have expected better from the AA, but on reflection I'm not sure why.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  2. wishicouldgofaster
    Member

    I always thought (up until now) that the instructor would also be punished for such a scenario as they are technically meant to be in control of the car.

    I'm not a driving instructor but I took my son out a while ago and was constantly checking his speed as well as having a good look out.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  3. Instography
    Member

    Part of my lessons, just before I sat my test, was to get used to doing everything too fast, the theory being if I could do it quickly then it would be much easier, to the point of feeling painfully slow, when I did it for my test. Mind, my instructor was a little unorthodox. He carried a pair of drum sticks and liked to do a bit of jazz drumming on the dashboard while we drove along.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  4. wingpig
    Member

    "was to get used to doing everything too fast, the theory being if I could do it quickly then it would be much easier"

    Hmm. My instructor alerted me (and, presumably, other pupils besides my sister) if we looked like we were introducing a shortcut or cutting a corner which could have potentially implied we were no longer thinking properly about what was going on - crossing hands over on the steering wheel, flicking on an indicator before we'd completed the looking, twitching feet pre-emptively before establishing that a roundabout was definitely enterable and so on.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  5. adamthekiwi
    Member

    Most depressing are the comments:
    - "36 m.p.h. Wow. ! Big Danger Big Deal"
    - "36 is nothing. I've turned into my driveway quicker than that"
    - "Why didn't the authorities ignore it?"
    - "This fine probably has more to do with an extra tax on drivers than safety on the roads."

    Therein lies one of the central problems of road safety: too many drivers just do not see speeding as a problem.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  6. Kim
    Member

    Speaking as a former driving instructor, I am shocked by this. Learner driver are driving under supervision and therefore the person doing the supervision (in this case a driving instructor who should know better) is equally liable for the driving offence. It is noticeable that the artificial doesn't say if the instructor was prosecuted on not. I would be surprised if they hadn't been, which would also mean that they would automatically lose their ADI status.

    It is also very telling the the learner didn't expect to have to take responsibility for her actions. This is a problem with far too many driver, although there are many who do accept they has a duty of care to others, it is the ones that don't that are the problem.

    As for the comments about speed, it just shows the amazing levels of ignorance and arrogance among the motoring public. Hit at 20 mph people have a 3% death rate, at 30 mph a 20% death rate, this rises to 50% at 35 mph and 90% at 40 mph. It is time this message was repeated until speeding was seen as socially unacceptable.

    Posted 10 years ago #

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