This is Somerset -
hereThis is Somerset wrote:
No choice . . . drivers caught speeding will get the points
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
?Around 1,000 drivers a week caught speeding will no longer have the option to avoid penalty points on their licence.
The Speed Choice driver education programme, covering the Avon and Somerset Police area, comes to an end on Friday and, as yet, no alternative has been put in place.
For some, removing the education programme option will mean a ban from driving.
Avon and Somerset Police are looking to join the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme, which enables drivers to take part in a training course anywhere in Britain.
But no date has been set for the force to join the NDORS scheme and drivers caught speeding in the Avon and Somerset force area will automatically have three points added to their licences.
Avon and Somerset may look to an outside firm to run the courses on their behalf but any contract has yet to be put out to tender.
Speed Choice has been running driver education courses since April 2003. To date, nearly 250,000 motorists have attended the programme.
"The situation is out of our control to be honest," said Richard Fairhurst, Education Development Manager for Speed Choice.
"No education programme is being offered in Avon and Somerset and we have not been told what the alternative plan is.
"As far as we are aware there is no date to start."
A statement from Avon and Somerset Police said: "It is our preferred intention that we join the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS) which will enable people to take part in a course anywhere in the UK.
"It may be that a tender is put out for a service provider to run this on behalf of the force."
The force said it was hoping to extend the use of mobile speed cameras and they would support local authorities if they wish to keep static speed cameras operational once the Safety Camera Partnership is disbanded.
Mr Fairhurst said feedback from drivers on the programme revealed 97 per cent believed the course was good or very good.
We must delve deeper than asking people who are avoiding points whether a course is good or not plus what have they to compare it to anyway ? How many people ever take additional motoring training courses after the initial test ? The figure is small and every encouragement should be provided to increase those numbers. Making better motorists who take the best most responsible decisions as they travel will make the roads safer.
Pleased that those who may profit from such courses (DriveTec, NDORS etc) may no longer be a part of this whole sorry set up. The only advantage in the National scheme is that someone will not have to travel as far - possibly.
I am disappointed to see that the Avon & Somerset Police see more mobile speed cameras than hope for more Police Patrols.