Last year’s record-breaking number of drivers chose speed awareness courses to avoid fines or having their points increased.
The National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme data, accessed by PA shows that 1.5 million license holders took a course in 2021 to avoid a possible fine and other penalty points.
It is up from 1.3 Million in the previous year. This represents the highest total annual figure on record, even though it has been maintained since 2014.
Return to the classroom
Last year, 86% of all driver retraining programs were speed awareness classes for motorists caught in excess of a certain limit while remaining within an acceptable range.
Courses are intended to assist people in identifying speed limits and recognizing the consequences for driving too fast.
However, only those who haven’t attended a speed awareness course in the previous three years are given the option to take one – at a cost of between £73 and £95 – to escape having points added to their licence and minimum fines of £100.
Drivers can be offered courses at their discretion by police forces throughout the UK. The majority of those that took place last year due to pandemic were almost completed.
The Department for Transport sees education as an important part of its efforts. Official figures show that 25 percent of all fatal accidents on Britain’s roads were due to speed.
The 86% of driver retraining programs attended in 2013 were speed awareness classes for motorists who exceeded a certain limit while remaining within an acceptable range.
Another popular course is those that teach you how to drive safely on the motorway, using a seat belt, and other issues related to inconsiderate and risky driving.
Steve Gooding is the director of the RAC Foundation’s motoring charity research organization. He stated: “On the surface, it seems that driving habits have gotten worse despite last year’s Covid-induced travel restrictions.
“But, motorists must remember that 1.5 million people were arrested last year for flouting the law. So if you are tempted by speeding up and think you might be the next one to get caught,”
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