Police try to change driving habits

8:09am Saturday 17th May 2008

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SPEEDING drivers may be given an alternative to three points on their licence for marginal offences, starting this month.

From the middle of May and onwards, Cheshire Police will be offering speed awareness courses as an alternative to enforcement to those drivers and riders caught driving marginally over the speed limit across its network.

The consequences of speeding less than ten miles per hour over the speed limit can be the difference between life and death.

Peter Fahy, Chief Constable of Cheshire Police

The course will be provided by Cheshire County Council on behalf of Cheshire Safer Roads Partnership (CSRP), and is being run to try and change drivers' attitude towards speeding, and reduce the likelihood of them speeding in the future.

Drivers will be offered the speed awareness course instead of penalty points, providing their speed was more than 10 per cent plus five miles per hour over the set speed limit - for example, 38mph in a 30 mph zone, and they have not been on a speed awareness course in the past three years.

Peter Fahy, Ch Con of Cheshire Police said: "By offering drivers the speed awareness course as an alternative to three points on their licence, we will be able to influence road user behaviour and give drivers information and skills to allow them to drive within the speed limit. The consequences of speeding less than ten miles per hour over the speed limit can be the difference between life and death."

Cheshire County Council chief executive Jeremy Taylor said: "This important new project will allow the police to offer offending drivers a constructive way to relearn their driving habits regarding speeding, rather than simply penalising them.

"Motorists have nothing to fear if they drive within the posted speed limits."

The half day course will last around four hours and cost the offender £60. The scheme will not be run for profit, and the £60 will cover the costs of providing and administering the course.