Driver Alertness Course
Background to the Driver Alertness Course
The Driver Alertness Course is available in most counties and is run by Local Authorities or private companies who act as service providers to their prospective Police Authority.
When a person is involved in a Road Traffic Incident and evidence is collated by the Police which indicates that they have been ‘Driving Without Due Care and Attention or Reasonable Consideration to Other Road Users' contrary to Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act, 1988. The person involved is given an option to either have the incident referred to the Crown Prosecution Service where they may receive a fine and penalty points on their driving licence, or an opportunity to attend a Driver Alertness Course.
Information about the Course is then sent to the person involved along with an offer to attend. If the offer of a Driver Alertness Course is accepted, the appropriate paperwork is then forwarded to a Service Provider who will liaise with the client. Course dates are given well in advance.
The fee payable to the Service Provider is currently £130.00 in Greater Manchester (but may vary in other areas), for the one day course. This fee is payable prior to attending. The Course is delivered by specialist Department for Transport Approved Driving Instructors. The Course involves a mixture of driving theory, which combines the latest thinking on defensive driving techniques with modern training methods and practical on-road driving.
After attending and successfully completing the course, the driver will be notified by the relevant Police Authority that no further action will be taken for this particular incident. The date of course completion is recorded and held on a National Database. If the driver is involved in another road traffic incident falling under the same criteria within 3 years of the original incident date, a second course will not be offered in lieu of proceedings.
Once a driver has accepted the offer to attend a course, but then fails to attend or successfully complete, the Service Provider is compelled to notify the relevant Police Authority. The case would then be referred to the Crown Prosecution Service and ultimately be dealt with by the Magistrates' Court.
