100,000 drivers back education over punishment

6th December 2007

In the last four and a half years, more than 100,000 drivers in the Thames Valley Police region have opted to attend the Urban Roads Speed Awareness Workshop, run by DriveTech (UK) plc.

The workshop is for those caught speeding in 30 and 40 mph zones by safety cameras operated under the Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership and those stopped at the roadsides by police officers.

Mr Kippax of Berkhamsted, said: “I recently attended a speed awareness course arranged by Thames Valley Police and delivered by DriveTech near Bicester. I thought on this occasion the training team deserved some well earned positive feedback.

“I found the course very educational, extremely well designed and delivered exceptionally well – with humour and professionalism.

“Although I’m not sure I’d like to get caught speeding again, on this occasion it proved to be an educational treat. Well done to all concerned”

Since January 2005 nearly 2000 people have been injured on the roads in this area as a result of people driving too fast in these speed limits. Across the road network over a quarter of fatal collisions involve someone driving too fast.

The courses were launched in August 2003 and in April this year they were expanded to adopt the full Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) guidelines for speed awareness schemes and broadening the programme.

The courses are designed to improve driving skills, attitude, and behaviour, in order to enhance the safety of motorists and other road users.
Of those speeders offered a course there has been a take-up of over 90 per cent.

Malcolm Collis, from the Thames Valley Police Roads Policing Department who developed and set up the first scheme, said: “We remain convinced that sending people on these courses as an alternative to a fixed penalty is making a difference. All the feedback we get is very positive and we know we are changing attitudes and modifying future driver behaviour.”

Commenting on this landmark, Richard Owen, Operations Manager for the Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership, said: “For the first time ever this year, we could see the numbers attending this sort of workshop exceeding those paying fines. The course is helping to change the way that people drive and assisting the partnership to fulfil its commitment to education and training.”

Chris Howell, chairman and founder of DriveTech (UK) added: “We firmly believe that education is an essential part of an all-encompassing strategy to improve road safety. We see the benefits and knowledge that drivers gain from understanding the consequences of their driving decisions at every workshop.

“That’s why, from early next year, we will be offering a new programme of pre- and post-test driver training for learner drivers – funded by the Bank of Scotland Corporate’s £25m Entrepreneurial Challenge Award - so we can start to influence attitudes and behaviour at the very start of a driving career.”

Editor's Notes

1) Malcolm Collis is available for interviews this morning (6/12) between 10am and 12pm. To book a slot, please contact David Staines on 01865846335.

2) There are four education Speed Awareness programmes offered in the Thames Valley including; Urban Roads, Faster Roads, Rider Improvement Workshops and the

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.

3) DriveTech (UK) plc is one of the UK's leading providers of road risk management and driver assessment & education. We work both with organisations whose employees 'drive for work' and with members of the public who are offered education, as an alternative to prosecution, by the police. For more information about DriveTech (UK) plc, please visit www.drivetech.co.uk or call David Richards on 01344 467271.