Thames Valley Speeding scheme expanded

2 April 2007

Motorists will be given extra opportunities to assess and improve their driving after being caught speeding as part of an expansion of the Thames Valley Speed Awareness Scheme.

From 1 April, Thames Valley Police will be adopting the full Association of Chief Police Officer (ACPO) guidelines for speed awareness schemes and broadening the programme. This means around 30 per cent more drivers and riders caught speeding will be given the option of attending the Thames Valley Speed Awareness Scheme instead of getting points on their licence. The four different Workshops and Courses aim to educate drivers about the dangers of speeding and change the public’s attitude towards speed, and are now being offered to more motorists than ever before.

Malcolm Collis, Safety Manager for Thames Valley Police Roads Policing Operational Command Unit, said: “We recognise the benefits of educating drivers rather than just punishing them. We believe our education schemes have a major influence on driver attitudes and behaviour. By increasing the number of Workshops and Courses, we will be able to reach a greater number of speeders who are breaking the upper and lower speed limits on different types of roads.”

“We are determined to do everything we can to make the roads in the Thames Valley safer for all. Each year around 150 people are killed in the region. Many of these deaths may not have happened if people had not been speeding. Our Speed Awareness Scheme is very successful and we regularly receive feedback from sceptical drivers who say that it has changed the way they drive.”

There are four education programmes including; Urban Roads, Faster Roads, Rider Improvement Workshops and Speed Awareness Course.

The Urban Roads Workshop is for those caught speeding in 30 and 40mph limits. This is for those detected in the speed range of 35-39mph in a 30mph limit or 46-50mph in a 40mph limit.

The Faster Roads Workshop is for those caught speeding in 50, 60 and 70mph limits. This is for those detected in the speed range of 57-61mph in a 50mph limit or 68-72 mph in a 60mph limit or 79-83mph in a 70mph limit.

Both Workshops last two-and-a-half hours; both cost £74 including VAT instead of a £60 fine and three penalty points.

The Rider Improvement Workshop is for motorcyclists caught speeding throughout the fixed penalty speeding range in 50, 60 and 70mph limits. This Course lasts for four hours and is classroom based and costs £91 including VAT. This is instead of a £60 fine and three penalty points for those caught within the fixed penalty range. For those caught at higher speeds, the Course is an alternative to going to court and the rider will still get a £60 fine and three penalty points. There is an option to upgrade to an on-road Course for an additional charge.

The Speed Awareness Course is for those drivers caught speeding in the first 10mph of the speed range that would usually result in a court summons. The Course lasts five hours, three hours in a classroom and two hours of on-road training. It costs £94 including VAT, but the driver will still get a £60 fixed penalty and three points as it is an alternative to going to court.

DriveTech (UK) plc founder Chris Howell, said:” We believe that Thames Valley Police’s decision to adopt the full ACPO speed awareness guidelines is a significant step forward. By delivering more driver education focused on specific driving offences, we’re sure this approach will deliver real road safety benefits to all road users and the community at large.”

There is no guarantee that drivers will be given the option of attending the Courses. In extreme cases of excessive speed, motorists will be given no alternative and be sent to court.

If a motorist has attended a Speed Awareness Scheme in the last three yeas, they will not be offered another Workshop or Course. However, it doesn’t matter if they have been on a similar scheme for other offences or how many points they have on their licence, except where the offer would be for the High Speed Course; for this Course the motorist must have less than nine points at the time of attending the Speed Awareness Course.

For further information about the Speed Awareness Scheme log on to www.drivetechsas.com/thamesvalley or for the Rider Improvement Scheme visit www.drivetechdis.com

EDITOR’S NOTES

DriveTech is the UK's leading provider of  ‘driving at work’ risk management, driver assessment and driver training solutions.

DriveTech’s goal is to reduce both an organisation’s vehicle business costs and the personal risk for ‘at work’ drivers, by significantly improving driver ABC – attitude, behaviour and competence – therefore supporting driver safety and corporate ‘duty of care’ requirements.

DriveTech (UK) has won the Institute of Transport Management’s ‘Fleet Award for Driver Training’ in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 and its ‘European Driver Safety Specialist’ award in 2005.

For further information contact:

David Richards at DriveTech (UK) at david.richards@drivetech.co.uk or 01344 467271.