Speed awareness schemes launched
31 May 2010
Road users detected breaking speed limits in Northern Ireland will be offered a one-off opportunity to go back to the classroom and improve their driving skills - rather than picking up a fine and three penalty points on their licence.
From tomorrow (Tuesday 1 June), speed awareness courses will be offered to drivers who are detected breaking the speed limits by just a few miles an hour.
Speaking about the new initiative, Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland said: “Excessive speed for the conditions is the single biggest killer of people on Northern Ireland roads. This is the final warning for those who continue to break the speed limits.
“From tomorrow, additional road policing patrols will be deployed across Northern Ireland to target people who take the completely selfish decision to speed and put other people at risk.
“These new diversionary courses will re-educate speeding road users and graphically illustrate the very real dangers and consequences of breaking the speed limit.
“Driver and riders who participate will find the interactive sessions very challenging. They will gain an insight to tragic and horrific consequences that often result from reckless driving and be urged to take more responsibility for their actions on the roads.
“There is no doubt that the roads would be a much safer place if more people took heed of this advice,” Assistant Chief Constable McCausland said.
Those detected of speeding and who are aged 25 years and over, will be able to attend a Speed Awareness Scheme. Those aged under 25 years and detected speeding will be offered the chance to complete a Young Drivers Scheme.
The four hour classroom based Speed Awareness Scheme follows a nationally approved syllabus, and will be run by DriveTech (UK) Ltd (a subsidiary of the AA) and delivered by specially selected approved road safety specialists. Courses will be held in Omagh, Coleraine, Belfast and Newry.
The Young Drivers Scheme aims to target vulnerable motorists and reduce the risk of young drivers becoming involved in serious injury and fatal road traffic collisions. The scheme consists of an educational workshop and online e-learning modules
Both courses aim to generate a better understanding of the consequences of speeding and raise awareness of the importance of sticking to speed limits. The courses also help drivers recognise speed limits and provide instruction on driving more carefully.
Drivers will pay £85 inclusive of VAT to attend each course which covers the cost of administering and delivering the schemes. They will only be available to drivers who meet certain eligibility criteria. The Young Drivers Scheme and Speed Awareness Scheme will not be offered to drivers who exceed the speed limit excessively, or those who have attended a national speed awareness course in the past three years.
