Speeding ticket inspires Judith to improve driving skills

A SPEEDING ticket spurred an experienced Yeovil motorist to improve her driving skills to make her an even safer driver.

Judith Stewart attended a speed awareness course in Yeovil run by driver education specialists, the TTC Group, on behalf of Avon and Somerset Police, after being caught driving at 35mph in a 30mph limit in Oxfordshire.

She enjoyed the course so much re-learning some forgotten driving skills that she decided to sign up for a free half hour observation test with the Institute of Advanced Motorists. As a former member of the IAM, Judith had passed her advanced driving test a decade earlier.

“The speed awareness course run by the TTC Group was absolutely brilliant," she said. "It was worth every minute and I picked up lots of tips, said Judith who was on her way to run a training course when she was caught speeding.

“When some people are invited to attend a speed awareness course, they think they will be told off and treated like naughty children, but this was far from the case.

“The trainers were excellent, not judgemental in any way, and very supportive. As a result I decided to take any steps I could to further improve my driving.

“If anyone does get the chance to go on a speed awareness course, I would certainly advise them to take it. Getting points on your licence and a fine does not improve your driving but this course does.”     

After contacting the IAM, she was taken on a 30 minute observation test in her own car in and around Yeovil by the IAM’s Camelot (Yeovil) chairman and chief observer, David Perkins.

David said the IAM enabled people to update their driving skills and people were eligible to a free half hour review of their driving.

“It is essential for people to update their driving skills - everyone’s driving standards lapse," he said. "After you have passed your test and you haven’t updated your skills then your driving will not be as enjoyable or as good as it could be.”

PHOTO - ABOVE: Driver Judith Stewart with the chairman of the Yeovil group's Institute of Advanced Motorists' David Perkins.

There are two branches of the IAM in Somerset in Taunton and Yeovil. For more information contact the IAM on 0845-1268600 or visit www.iam.org.uk .

Tags:
News.