National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme

The National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS) is a scheme run in parts of the United Kingdom whereby certain drivers found committing a driving offence can be offered a training course as an alternative to prosecution.

Background

The idea of having re-education rather than prosecution for driving offences was first raised in the North Report in the late 1980s.^[1] The report stated that "it must be in the public interest to rectify a fault rather than punish the transgressor" and "retraining of traffic offenders may lead to an improvement in their driving, particularly if their training is angled towards their failings".^[2]

The NDORS scheme is governed by guidance issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers and endorsed by the Crown Prosecution Service.^[3]

In the year 2010-11, 41% of drivers caught speeding nationally took a course; in the following year the figure rose to 54%.^[4]

Course types and content

The ACPO guidance lists four types of course:^[3]

• National driver alertness course (for non-serious collisions and complaints by 3rd parties)
• National speed awareness course (for speeding up to 10% + 9 mph over the speed limit)
• What's driving Us course (for conscious bad driving not resulting in a collision)
• Driving 4 change course (for careless driving not resulting in a collision)

Courses are offered at the discretion of the prosecuting authority – for example the South Yorkshire Safety Camera Partnership state that "although we do have the power to prosecute those who break the speed limit, we would rather persuade drivers to slow down".^[5]

The courses are given by different types of provider – including private companies, the Police, and local councils – in different parts of the country^[6] and are provided at the offending driver's own expense.^[7] In 2012 The Daily Telegraph reported the cost of attending a speed awareness course to be £100.^[4]

Reception

A comprehensive review undertaken by a team led by Professor Robert Martin of Aston University Business School found that speed awareness courses had a "long term impact on driver behaviour". Martin stated that "the results clearly show that the speed awareness course led to reliable improvements in client's attitude to speeding and importantly their intention not to break the speed limit."^[8]

Impact on insurance premiums

Some insurance companies, including Admiral Insurance, treat drivers who have attended speed awareness courses as if they have been convicted and raise their insurance premiums accordingly. Admiral Insurance stated that their figures show "people attending a speed awareness course are more likely to make a claim". ACPO has responded to this policy of "loading premiums", calling it "unfair" and "inappropriate".^[9] Other insurers also take a different view. A spokesman for AA insurance said "The view of most insurers, including the AA, is that attending a course is a responsible approach and should not be penalised by increasing premiums in the same way as a fixed penalty."^[10]

References

External links

• Book a National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme course on gov.uk