Pictured: Steve Owen
A Midlands businessman who drives 40,000 miles a year says he
now saves money on fuel by driving much more economically - after
being caught speeding.
Steve Owen (49), a Product Sales Manager at a Bridgnorth firm,
said he improved both his driving skills and the performance of his
company car after choosing to attend a four hour speed awareness
course instead of receiving points on his licence.
He has now proposed the idea of driver training to his company,
Ruskin Air Management, which is provided by Shropshire's TTC
Automotive, the corporate training arm of speed awareness course
provider, the TTC Group, of Hadley Park, Telford.
"I attended the course at Worcester with heavy heart expecting a
dull four hours. My experience was actually very different. The
course was informative and challenged my, and I'm sure other
people's, attitudes to speed and driving."
Just a week after the course Steve said he found it much easier
to drive within speed limits using a speed limiter, journeys didn't
take much longer, and he was less stressed as now he didn't need to
watch the rear view mirror "for blue lights." He now kept a good
"two second" gap behind the vehicle in front.
"I hope I am now a little better on the road and my fuel
consumption has improved from 40 to 50 miles per gallon, a 25 per
cent difference."
Steve said he was also spared a speeding conviction after being
tailgated on a 40mph section of the Bridgnorth to Kidderminster
Road soon after the course.
"My reaction to this before would probably have been to increase
my speed but following the course I didn't."
Half a mile further on the two cars passed two police officers
conducting speed checks.
"I am sure it is a direct result of my speed awareness course
that I took the action I did. It saved me and the guy on my tail,
another speeding fine."
Des Morrison, manager of the TTC Group which is the UK's largest
provider of driver education courses, said there was nothing to
fear from a speed awareness course.
"They do help to remind people about safety on the road which
many of us do forget after driving for a number of years. We get
many similar letters of praise and as a result there are many
better and safer drivers out there on the roads."
The TTC Group also run National Driver Alertness Courses and
drink drive rehabilitation courses. TTC Automotive, part of the TTC
Group, runs courses for the corporate sector as well as individual
drivers to educate motorists before they commit a traffic offence.
They also put on driver CPC courses for professional drivers to
meet EU regulations. For more information about attending a bespoke
driving course contact TTC Automotive on 03338000222 or
visit www.ttcautomotive.co.uk.