Like Simon Sweeney, I also attended a speed awareness seminar not so long ago (Letters, August 9).

Unfortunately, I was just 1mph over the regular speed limit for that particular stretch of road at midnight and had carelessly missed a temporary speed limit sign advising of a 10mph reduction.

Out of the 50 people on the course, only those who had recently passed their tests could admit to having read the Highway Code within any memorable timescale.

The officer who conducted the course explained how certain rules etc had changed and the speeds of various different vehicles on the road, etc, which was all quite interesting.

He showed us a big pile of Highway Code booklets and briefed us of the changes over the years.

We were told that you could buy one for a couple of pounds.

As the course, although obviously a punishment to all who offended, was referred to as a seminar, ie a training course, would it not have been useful from an educational point of view, to hand one out as we left, thereby encouraging people to take more notice?

Handouts and notes are given at most training courses I have been on, and since we paid £95 to attend, that cost could easily have been absorbed within the fine.

Angela Brader, Wetwang, York.