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Speed Awareness Scheme
Speed,
or the inappropriate use of speed, is a factor in
a significant percentage of road traffic incidents.
The greater the speed involved the more serious the
incident is likely to be. It is estimated that excessive
or inappropriate speed is a contributory factor in
the majority of vehicle collisions.
The National Speed Awareness Scheme has been born
out of the success of the National Driver Improvement
Scheme (NDIS). The fundamental point of any course
is that education, as an alternative to prosecution
must be based on a driver's mistake, rather than a
reckless or intentional act, with the objective that
the offender benefits from the course and from thereon
ultimately contributing to road and community safety,
with potential environmental benefits also.
It is in the same vein that the Speed Awareness Courses
are to be run involving low-end speed offenders. Safety
Camera Partnerships can not operate Speed Awareness
Courses alone. They must be for individual Chief Constables
to run within these guidelines published by the Association
of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
The Speed Awareness Scheme finds its legal authority
in the discretion entrusted to the Police, who decide
whether to instigate proceedings for offences. The
Scheme is not intended to usurp the Courts authority,
but is intended to broach drivers' attitude and behaviour
towards inappropriate driving speeds, which in turn
leads to a reduction in re-offending and ultimately
contributes towards road safety and a better quality
of life.
The Dept for Transport sponsored a significant research
project into the methodology of re-educating speeding
motorists. This culminated in the publication of the
DfT's report No 66 of 2006 entitled "Effective Interventions
for Speeding Motorists".
ANDISP have developed and own the current course and
all courses are run to the ANDISP corporate model.
The courses themselves are run by Local Authority
Road Safety Departments and by private companies,
who are contracted or appointed as Service providers
for their respective Police Authorities.
The course is an alternative to prosecution, for all
speed bands and classes of vehicle speeds except 20
mph zones. Previous driving history will not be taken
into account when making an offer.
The course is no soft option for the offender. Attendance
on the course attracts a fee payable by the offender,
as well as the time and effort involved. The course
may vary from force to force, as some forces will
adopt the theory only element of four hours duration.
There is an option to add the practical element that
involves of up to another 90 minutes to accommodate
the on-road session. The course will cater for all
classes of drivers and there will be no discrimination
regarding age, ability, language, ethnic origin or
ability.
The National Speed Awareness Scheme will allow offenders
who admit the offence of speeding to be offered a
course in the area of their choice, providing the
Force in question has adopted the National Scheme
arrangements.
Once an motorist has completed a course the will be
ineligible for another course offer if they reoffend
within 3 years of the original offence.
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