Company views on Speed Awareness Courses

Lex is warning companies whose drivers get caught speeding and who attend a Speed Awareness course that they only have one chance to avoid three points on their licence.

If the driver is caught speeding after attending a Speed Awareness course, they won’t receive a second chance and will automatically gain three points and a £60 fine.

This warning follows Lex and Roadsafe’s joint survey into corporate views on Speed Awareness Courses that allow drivers to attend a training session as an alternative to a Fixed Penalty of £60 and three penalty points.

Ninety-five per cent of respondents said they thought the courses launched in 2005 were a good idea, with 12% actually having been on one.

Of those who had attended a training session, 48% said they didn’t enjoy it, but 99% said they would prefer to attend a course rather than receive three points on their licence.

A surprise was that 34% of respondents felt training should be an addition to three points on a driver’s licence, suggesting companies want their drivers to be penalised for speeding offences.

Nearly 150 companies responded to the survey, which also asked questions about driver training and Driving at Work policies.

“Our concern was that 36% of respondents hadn’t received any training since passing their driving test. Fleets should consider introducing training for all of its drivers, even if it involves classroom based refresher sessions which revisit the Highway Code,” said Jon Walden, Lex Managing Director.

“On a positive note 72% of those who responded to the survey said their company had a Driving for Work policy in place in response to the growing Duty of Care issue. However, 22% still don’t have a Driving at Work policy in place,” he added.

Director of Roadsafe Adrian Walsh commented: “Although it’s encouraging to see that 72% of respondents have a Driving for Work policy in place, there is still much work to do in ensuring the remaining 28% take their Duty of Care responsibilities seriously. Employers need to focus on driving ability, and should not simply assume that being in possession of a driving licence is a guarantee of ability.”

“We believe our ‘Driving for Better Business’ outreach programme will result in a dramatic increase in the number of companies that are adopting effective driving for work policies. Business Champions are currently being enlisted to identify best practice and help to cascade it to others. Although the government supported programme is only coming into effect this year, there has already been a significant investment by companies to improve safety measures amongst those of their workforce, who drive for work.”

Edmund King, Executive Director of the RAC Foundation said “We have been campaigning for more speed awareness courses for six years. It is much more effective to educate speeding drivers rather than just prosecute them. Ironically the courses are only offered to drivers who are marginally over the speed limit, whereas those who exceed the limit more substantially are arguably more in need of the courses."