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Ran red light by accident, got T boned- advice much appreciated., Threads merged
surfer91919
post Fri, 16 Nov 2018 - 14:32
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Hi all,

I'm new here and would be very grateful for your opinions on my predicament.

Last Sunday I was driving to the leisure centre on my own (where I also work in the attached college). This involves crossing a roundabout which I've driven probably over a thousand times. Unfortunately on this day I had a lapse of concentration and ran a red light. I literally have no memory of what colour the light was but it must have patently been red. The lights are on timers which vary depending on traffic on the different roads. In the morning when I usually drive on this roundabout, you typically go straight through after waiting at the first set of lights. On this day I waited at the first set of lights but ran through the second set which must have been on red.
I also didn't see the car coming to T bone me as i'd have had to have been driving along with my head over my left shoulder to see (it wouldn't have been visible in my mirrors either).

As I was exiting the roundabout (obviously crossing a lane which I shouldn't have been in) I was struck on my passenger side rear wheel by another vehicle driven by a nurse on her way to work (no other passengers). This caused my car to spin round around 180 degrees. The first point of contact was my rear nearside wheel and the damage included both the doors being totally bent in, the B pillar, edge of the roof and sill all damaged/ crushed in- a write off for sure considering it's a 21 year old mercedes C class. After the police had left the other car (Ford Edge Titanium) drove away without any obvious severe damage- nothing hanging off, no broken lights or issues with the radiator. The bumper looked a bit frilly. I wouldn't be surprised if it's written off though. Air bags did not deploy in either car.
Luckily there were no injuries whatsoever reported, even I was fine despite taking the lions share of the damage and already having chronic whiplash which flares up if I neglect doing yoga.

Naturally I'm mortified and am questioning my basic competence in life and feeling very low and depressed. If it had been a motorcyclist I'm not sure I would be able to live with myself. As it is I have been considering moving to a city for a new life where I wouldn't need to drive anymore.

There were no aggravating factors and I was very apologetic. No ambulace or fire brigade attendance. A passer by called the cops. I had a 0 reading on a breath test and everything with my car checked out fine in terms of insurance and roadworthiness. I called my breakdown recovery to collect my car and take it back to my workshop.

The traffic cop said he would report me for careless driving and running a red light but that I should realise that noone was hurt. I admitted fault and that i must have run a red light by accident but when I was asked by the cop what colour the light was I replied that I didn't register it but that I accept it must have been red.

I currently have no active points on my licence (held for 12 years), I had an sp30 over 3 years ago for doing 80 in a 60 at 2am on an A road. I also had a minor scrape in a car park around the same time (noone in the car, minimal damage). Never had an awareness course.

Can anyone advise what the punishment is likely to be for this? I've already read the ACPO guidelines and sentencing guidance on careless driving and this offence appears to be at the lower end of the spectrum and, were it not for being reported for two offence codes for the one illegal action, I may possibly be offered an awareness course as the ACPO advocate driver education whenever possible for offences reuslting in collisions which didn't have serious consequences.

I've been advised by a friend who's a solicitor that if I have to attend the magistrates court that I should wear a suit, be extremely remorseful (I would be/ am anyway), emphasise the extreme hardship and loss of employment which a ban would result in and accept a fine (according to sentencing guidelines around a weeks wages) and points (he thought 4-6 points).

I'm not looking for a way of getting out of this in any way, just wondered if anyone had had a similar experience.

I was a passenger in a car around 4 years ago which was driving at 65mph in thick fog on a B road. Two of the other passengers asked the driver to slow down, which he ignored, then spun the car on a corner causing it to hit a hedge and roll. The girl in the front passenger seat has a lifelong elbow injury from this as well as whiplash and I also had whiplash. He got an awareness course. As such I feel it would be unfair if I was to be punished more severely but I'm not sure if it would be worth appealing if were to be?

The only observations I've had since is that I don't think there'd have been a collision if there was a stream of cars in that lane when approached the white line. There's no way I'd have plowed head on into a stream of cars. it's one thing misssing a traffic light but another to plow into a load of cars. Once I'd missed the red light there was very little I could've done to avoid a collision as the oncoming car was hard to see and I was already travelling away from the oncoming car at the point of impact. I don't think she braked at all looking at the damage (30 limit, seemed about a 30mph impact). Not criticising her as I shouldn't have been there, just observing.

Any thoughts much appreciated

This post has been edited by surfer91919: Fri, 16 Nov 2018 - 14:45
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post Fri, 16 Nov 2018 - 14:32
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d123
post Sun, 6 Jan 2019 - 14:13
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QUOTE (mickR @ Sun, 6 Jan 2019 - 14:49) *
Is it not a classroom based course?? wink.gif


Both, it would appear. Here’s one of the provider’s description of the course.

QUOTE
TTC delivers the Safe and Considerate Driving Scheme to offenders as an alternative to court prosecution. TTC’s Safe and Considerate Driving Scheme (SCD) is available at over 50 venues in the Avon and Somerset, Cumbria, Devon and Cornwall, Gwent, South Wales, North Wales, North Yorkshire, Scotland, South Yorkshire, West Mercia and West Midlands.

The Safe and Considerate Driving Scheme is offered to some drivers who are deemed to have been involved in ‘driving without due care and attention’ incidents. These incidents may include being involved in an incident/crash.

The course is held over one day, and includes four hours of theory and approximately three and a half hours of practical on-road tuition.


http://www.ttc-uk.com/test-service-page/dr...ertness-scheme/

This post has been edited by d123: Sun, 6 Jan 2019 - 14:13
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iwt
post Sun, 6 Jan 2019 - 14:55
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From the T&Cs (for the provider d123 identified; I guess others may be similar. Check for yourself though...):
---
12. You must indicate to TTC 2000 Ltd if you require an automatic transmission vehicle for use on the practical element of the course
---
There are options to access a manual transmission vehicle; any number of driving instructors have manual cars. Could book a lesson for the purpose of the skill refresh. Also any number of car rental/car club type services.
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surfer91919
post Thu, 10 Jan 2019 - 11:05
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QUOTE (iwt @ Sun, 6 Jan 2019 - 14:55) *
From the T&Cs (for the provider d123 identified; I guess others may be similar. Check for yourself though...):
---
12. You must indicate to TTC 2000 Ltd if you require an automatic transmission vehicle for use on the practical element of the course
---
There are options to access a manual transmission vehicle; any number of driving instructors have manual cars. Could book a lesson for the purpose of the skill refresh. Also any number of car rental/car club type services.


I'm in touch with the booking unit at the police station now trying to book a course. There seems to be some discrepancies so far between what they've told me and what their website says. So far it was suggested that since
I passed my test in a manual car 12 years ago that I should be fine to do the practical in a manual car even after 8 years driving an auto. If I was driving to the shops and back I would agree but an hour of driving under scrutiny
is a different matter. Tbf, I've had lifelong issues with anxiety and insomnia issues for years which have been hugely exacerbated since the accident and having to jump into a manual car for the course will only make matters worse.

The website doesn't mention anything about having a licence for a manual car though, only if you drive an automatic:

https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/en/licens...derate-driving/

"Is a car provided?
Yes, a fully insured car will be provided for you. You need to inform the course organiser in advance if you drive an automatic car or if you have a disability that affects your driving."

I do/ have been driving an Auto therefore one should be provided for me according to their website.

Hopefully it'll all be sorted out today. I hope I don't have to get into a debate with the police over what their own website says, i.e that I should be provided an auto to do
the course in because I do drive an auto normally. I'll look into hire car or driving lessons but this seems discriminatory and also not really affordable following xmas but thanks for the suggestions.






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surfer91919
post Thu, 10 Jan 2019 - 11:27
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It's all sorted. Got an auto booked for the course smile.gif Will update how it goes
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surfer91919
post Wed, 26 Jun 2019 - 13:22
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Just to finish this thread off I completed the awareness course so no further action. It was no easy- 3 hours in the classroom and around 2-3 hours on the road. There were two of us using an automatic car so we probably did more driving than the other cars which had 3 people in. It was a decent course to be fair, I've learned a few techniques to expand my field of awareness and avoid the tunnel vision which can take over when you're stressed out. This kind of brain fog has never led to me losing control of my car and crashing into something but on a few occasions I've missed traffic signals and this time got well and truly trashed by the oncoming car. Insurance has gone up a little but not much.
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NewJudge
post Wed, 26 Jun 2019 - 13:31
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Who ran this course?
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