BECKY SHEAVES

If I drive four miles at 35 miles per hour, when I should be sticking to 30, I will only save myself 17 seconds over the whole journey... there really isn't any point... we will all get there in the end

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WELL, I thoroughly enjoyed my speed awareness course, despite all expectations to the contrary.

I wasn't nearly so positive at the beginning of the three-hour session, though. I think I may even have employed a touch of eye-roll as I settled myself into my seat. There is nothing like being told to sit at a table and watch a power point to make me revert to teenage petulance.

My guess was that I was in for slide after slide of children in wheelchairs, with heartbreaking videos about lives ruined by thoughtless drivers. I just didn't want to be made to feel that bad. But there was not a life-changing injury in sight. Instead, our no-nonsense tutors took us through how speeding could affect us and society generally. No shock tactics, just a time of looking at the facts. I came away informed - and chastened.