Driver Improvement

The National Driver Improvement Course is available throughout England, Scotland and Wales 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/s involved are 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 National Driver Improvement Course. Information about the Course is then sent to the person/s involved along with an offer to attend. If the offer of a National Driver Improvement 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 £152.50 in Greater Manchester (but may vary throughout the country), for the one and a half 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/rider 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/rider is involved in another road traffic incident, falling under the same criteria within 3 years of the course completion date a second course will not be offered in lieu of proceedings. Once a driver/rider 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.

Speed Awareness

Any driver who is detected driving at the speed identified as suitable in a force area and who has not previously attended a course within a 3 year period, will be offered a course in the area where the offence is committed.

The fee payable to the Service Provider is currently £60.00 in Greater Manchester (but may vary throughout the country), for the 4-hour course. The Course is delivered by specialist Department for Transport Approved Driving Instructors.

The Course is a combination of listening to information and group discussion. After attending and successfully completing the course, the driver/rider 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/rider is involved in another speeding offence falling under the same criteria within 3 years of the course completion date, a second course will not be offered in lieu of proceedings. Once a driver/rider 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.

The National Speed Awareness Course has been put in place to give offenders who drive in excess of the speed limit the opportunity to attend a driver re-education course on the effects and dangers of speeding. The course gives a driver an option of attending a Speed Awareness Course as an alternative to the Fixed Penalty System of a fine and penalty points endorsed on their licence.