I shall look into it for my next trip. Thanks. 

Nothing like that, sadly. It was all deadly serious and we were all potential child murderers. One tutor insisted, though no-one believed her, that she never exceeded the limit. There was some useful information from advanced driving instructors and I will modify my driving style in some ways - so it was not a complete waste of my time. I was delighted to find that I was far from alone in finding it hard to submit to power-tripping state agents actually. I came over as mild compared to some participants. I was rather amused by the AA's rent-seeking (the AA was ACPO's contractor in my case) in trying to get us to record a view in our feedback that "every driver would benefit from such a course". What better way for a corporation to make money than have people compelled by the state to buy its services?

I am well aware of it. I steer well clear of models (e.g. any kind of mommy van) favoured by the "It's only to get from A to B" brigade. Their lack of enthusiasm for cars and motoring is bound to be reflected in their performance. No-one gets to be good (whatever natural abilities they may have) at an activity they don't enjoy. The A-Bniks are far more dangerous even than "boy racer" types who may be insufficiently risk-averse but do at least aspire to be skilful (and probably will achieve it one day if they are spared). We can all have a lapse of attention and make a mistake so motoring is a dangerous activity per se, but if you disdain cars and driving you are likely to be a permanent menace. 

I am lucky enough to drive a powerful car and have to be all the more conscious of my surroundings. For example, Speranza can stop more quickly than most vehicles because of her F1-derived brakes. I must therefore worry more about the stopping distance of cars behind. So I end up pulling over to let them pass rather than leave them tailgating me dangerously. I would rather get back into the "slow overtaking" queue on a crowded British motorway behind rather than in front of them, regrettable though it is to reinforce their bad behaviour by rewarding it. The best use of such fools is to tuck in at a safe distance behind them and let them intimidate slow traffic out of ones way with their boorish behaviour. Then pass them when they are done. Even that needs to be done with caution as they are raising the risk of a pile-up for everyone in their presence.

Speranza is usually the fastest car on the road, but I am rarely (apart from occasional glorious moments on German autobahns) the fastest driver. When I go on track driving courses I frustrate the tutors, because I find it hard to overcome the habits of forty years of road driving. I often drive well below the speed limit if conditions are poor. In heavy rain my visibility down at the level of mommy van spray is poor. If I can't get in front of the line of traffic and out of the spray, I will hang back from it until conditions improve or even pull off and have a sandwich. Perform to the best of your own ability, manage risk as if everyone else is a fool and be gracious to all is as good a guide to driving as to any other aspect of life.

I am trying to look forward to the course, despite being rather ashamed of submitting to the blackmail involved. I feel I should tell Thames Valley Police where to stick their indoctrination, pay the fine and take the points like a man. Avoiding an increase in my insurance premiums is an understandable but far from noble objective. I know I will have to bite my tongue for four hours but it's always interesting to meet new people and to observe them under stress. Keeping my mouth shut is anyway good practice for life in politically-correct Britain. It won't adjust to me so I must adjust to it. I rather suspect that will be the best educational benefit.

It doesn't mean that where I live either, which is why I like to drive in countries where (a) the speed limits are closer to sensible or (b) the speed cameras don't do foreigners so I am only risking a cash fine if actually bagged in a sporting fashion. They are also very polite, call me Monsieur and do not lecture, rebuke or talk down to me. They simply state the amount by which I exceeded the limit and the sum of money they would like. Here in the Envy Isles; Lands of the Damp Puritans, I drive mostly only to get to the Eurotunnel. Otherwise I use the bus and tube, as my miserabilist masters prefer.