Dear LPG,

I am so glad that I can write to LPG anonymously because I have something to share now that it is all over. I recently, after all my years of clean and honest driving, have become an old-aged ‘felon’. 

I am a pensioner who does not actually live in the Borough of Lewisham although the border between my borough and yours is a stone’s throw from my house.     The police are so overworked with all the crime that is happening around the capital in this 21^st century that they managed to catch me last week driving at 24 miles-per-hour in a 20-mph zone.

It was a winter afternoon and, I should have known better, but I was not looking at my speedometer? The real travesty is that the piece of road where this crime occurred is one that I have driven along nearly every day for years successfully, and my driving has only been called into question now since the law of the land recently changed.

The punishment for my crime was sent to me by way of a letter which informed me that I would need to attend a Drivers Speed awareness course, and having read the details, I have to admit that it was a better alternative than getting possible points on my licence.

There was a choice of venue and date, I was thankful that there was an option to make arrangements by phone as well as online.  The one thing that the letter did not explain is that offenders needed to pay about £95.00, but though I felt that a bit steep, there are worse ways that it could have gone.  Even though I could have booked on line I chose to phone and I have to say that the advisor that I spoke to made me feel a lot better about what I was getting into.  One thing I did do was take a look on YouTube where I found a few videos posted by others who had been on such a course and said that it was not so bad.

The big day came, and I found myself at a local hotel with 23 others, and the course was quite informative. The four hours were also quite entertaining with films, questions and answers.  No one was made to feel small or shown up for answering their questions wrongly and I did learn a thing or two which I think will stay with me.  There was a 15-minute break during the proceedings and some of us used it to have a quick chat.  I was surprised to find out that three of the others who attended were caught ‘speeding’ at exactly the same place as me and nearly all the people I talked to had such similar stories to tell about the misdemeanour that had forced their attendance. 

I really just wanted to say that if you ever manage to get caught in the same way there is no need to stress about the course.  It was not so bad really.  It can best be described as a rather expensive, enforced four-hour course and I have to admit that I will watch my speed in future although I still have to say that if they keep lowering the speed limit it will be quicker for those pensioners with good legs to walk everywhere, although I have no doubt that that may well be one of the ulterior motives behind the whole scheme. 

XX, internet land.

XX has left us a link to the videos that give an insight into what to expect if you are offered one of these courses. 

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