The National Driver Retraining Scheme
National Driver Retraining Scheme
In some instances, it is possible to convince the prosecution to withdraw ‘driving without due care and attention’ proceedings in order to let you take part in the National Driver Retraining Scheme instead.
This retraining scheme offer avoids potential penalty points, court costs, fines as well as potential driving bans.
Contact Emma Patterson if you wish to discuss attending a course as an alternative to prosecution.
Read on...
The National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme has courses that are designed to improve the standard of your driving behavior. If you have been involved in a road traffic incident and the prosecution have enough evidence to prosecute you, you might be offered an opportunity to attend a course instead of court.
The benefits of attending a Driver Training Course
If you are given the opportunity of attending a course you will avoid the following:
- a fixed penalty
- a possible court appearance
- penalty points on your licence
The purpose of these driver training courses is to assist you to be a more responsible driver, allowing you to better contribute to road as well as community safety.
These courses do not have an exam or test, your willingness and attendance to take part on the course is all that is required to successfully finish the course.
Courses to help you improve as a driver or rider
You may also be offered a retraining course by the police. This depends on the specific road traffic offence committed, but is a good alternative to prosecution or a fixed penalty.
Under the National arrangements, most police forces in the UK offer driver retraining courses. You are only permitted to attend one driver retraining course every three years, so if you are subsequently involved in another incident within three years you will receive a fixed penalty or be prosecuted in court.
You can decide which location you would like to attend the course in, as long as that course fits within the nationally approved model.
You have to pay for the cost of the course and give up your time to attend.
When you are offered a driver retraining course you will be given information relating to;
- course locations
- availability
- costs
- times
National Driver Improvement Course and Alertness Course
If you have shown careless driving, inconsiderate driving or a similar offence, the police might offer for you to attend a National Driver Improvement and Alertness Course. This course takes a day and a half to complete and includes training in the classroom and out on the road.
Rider Intervention and Developing Experience (RiDE) Scheme
The RiDE training scheme may well be offered to you if you have been stopped for careless or inconsiderate motorcycle riding.
These offences might typically include;
- speeding
- failing to follow traffic signs and signals
- not being in control of your motorcycle
- other similar offences
This motorcycle rider course is classroom based and lasts for one day. There is more information on the RiDE website.
National Speed Awareness Course
The National Speed Awareness Course lasts either 4 or 5 hours. The 4 hour course is classroom theory, while the 5 hour course includes 1 hour of practical. Each police force decides which course they will run to suit their local needs.
View available Driving Courses online
If you are offered one of these courses instead of a fixed penalty of a court date, you can go to the Driver Retraining Website to find out more information.
You will need your Driving Licence number in order to log into the website where you can check course availability and current prices for each course. Prices shown might be subject to a surcharge so it is best to think of them as a guide only.
You will need to book the course provider in order to book and pay for the course.
If you have a court hearing date call 01626 359800
Clarke v CPS 2013 EWHC 366 (Admin)
It's not easy to defend a speeding allegation and its becoming increasingly difficult with cases like this.
A new client came to us after being banned by the Magistrates for 6 months. He had accumulated 12 points within 3 years and the Magistrates court banned him for 6 months. The client tried to argue exceptional hardship on his own and the court rejected his argument.
Our client instructed us to represent him at court when he was charged with overloading a hired minibus. He had hired the minibus as he had his extended family visiting for a holiday. At the same time builders were refurbishing his house and asked him if he could help them collect some extra sand and cement. Our client agreed and they went with him to the DIY shop to collect the materials.