A motorist caught speeding has praised the introduction of speed awareness courses run by a Shropshire organisation to give drivers a reminder about how to stay within speed limits.

Nurse Avril Ferrier (61) was so impressed with the four hour course run by leading UK driver trainers, the TTC Group, of Telford, that she even wrote a letter of thanks to West Mercia’s Chief Constable.

Avril was caught driving at 35 mph in a 30 limit as she made her way out of Ledbury in Herefordshire on her way home to Kinver, near Stourbridge.

She agreed to attend a speed awareness course in Kidderminster instead of receiving points on her licence.

The course was “excellent,” she told the Chief Constable Paul West, and the trainer Chris Evans was “first class” using a variety of teaching methods and encouraging the group to join in.

“I think we all learned quite a lot and benefitted from the course greatly. The atmosphere was warm and friendly and we all enjoyed the morning.

“I do think this is a great idea instead of fine and points on the licence which will promote good information and safer driving for the future,” she said.

Avril added that she would in future ensure she kept within the speed limit and was now a much more observant driver.

Speed awareness courses were introduced into Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire by West Mercia Constabulary last year.

The TTC Group, with an HQ in Telford, Shropshire, runs the courses on behalf of West Mercia Police to re-educate motorists and cut the county’s road crash toll. A nationally recognised driver training organisation, the TTC Group is one of the leading providers of speed awareness courses and also the UK’s top provider of drink drive education courses. They also train company car and professional truck, bus and coach drivers.

On the courses, motorists learn how to stick to speed limits and avoid concentration lapses. For more information call 0845 270 4363 or visit www.ttc-uk.com or www.ttcautomotive.co.uk

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On the speed awareness course motorists learn about hazard awareness, speeding consequences and tips on how to keep themselves and others safe. On the course they hear about a typical speed survey of motorists driving between 3pm and 4pm past a primary school during term time - where over half were travelling too fast.

Motorists are educated how to identify hazards, recognise speed limits and consider the consequences of speeding. They hear that 80 per cent of pedestrians die when hit by a car at 40 mph while 80 per cent survive a 30 mph collision.

Three quarters of crashes are in urban areas, 23 per cent on country roads and just two per cent on motorways. Driver error contributes to 95 per cent of crashes and students on the course are reminded to take extra time on their journey, given advanced driving skills enabling them to recognise earlier potential road hazards such as roundabouts on the horizon or church spires in the distance indicating they are entering a town and a 30mph speed limit awaits them. The main “unknown” fact among drivers is that recurring lamp posts mean it is 30 mph unless there is a sign to show otherwise.

Many are on the course because they mistook a 30 mph limit for 40 mph. They are made aware how to “read the road” and recognise clues to help them identify speed related hazards.

West Mercia Safer Roads Partnership statistics:


speed is still one of the biggest contributory factors in fatal road collisions. In 2008 - 4,685 people were killed or seriously injured in collisions where speed was listed as a contributory factor; 586 of these were fatalities.

Exceeding the speed limit or going too fast for the conditions was reported as a factor in 29% of fatal collisions; 856 deaths which could have been avoided.

At 35mph you are twice as likely to kill someone than if you are travelling at 30mph

· 80 per cent of pedestrians hit at 30mph will live, while 80 per cent of pedestrians hit at 40mph will die.

· An average family car travelling at 35mph will need an extra 21 feet (6.4 metres) to stop than one travelling at 30mph

· Speeding is a contributory factor in at least 26 per cent of collisions that result in fatalities. National research has shown that speeding is common with 50 per cent of all drivers admitting to exceeding the 30mph limit in urban areas.