Drivers told to be ‘thankful’ as two million Britons avoid prosecution for breaking road rules in 2024
A record two million UK drivers took retraining courses to avoid prosecution for road offences last year, marking the highest annual total since records began in 2014.
The figure represents an increase from 1.9 million in 2023 and a significant rise from 1.5 million in 2021, according to data from UK Road Offender Education.
Speed awareness courses dominated the retraining programmes, with more than 82 per cent of attendees participating in these sessions last year.
The courses, which run for two hours and 45 minutes, are designed to help motorists identify speed limits and develop strategies to resist pressure to speed. Participants also learn techniques to avoid distractions while driving.
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Other available retraining options focus on specific areas including motorway driving, motorbike and moped riding, cycling and seat belt wearing.
RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding said: “Motorists featuring in these numbers should be thankful that they aren’t appearing in the even more worrying road casualty statistics that record the toll of death and injury that persistently haunts our roads.
“Drivers should respect motoring laws because they exist to protect all road users,” he told PA.
Department for Transport figures reveal a concerning link between speeding and road fatalities, with 314 people losing their lives in speed-related crashes on Britain’s roads in 2023, representing a 10-year high.
These statistics underscore the serious consequences of speeding on UK roads, highlighting the importance of driver education programmes.
UK Road Offender Education, a private not-for-profit company, manages the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (Ndors) on behalf of police forces nationwide.
The courses are delivered by a mix of private companies, councils and police forces across the UK.
Participation in these courses is offered at the discretion of local chief constables for what they deem minor offences.
Drivers who re-offend are not permitted to take the same course again within a three-year period.
Course costs for speed awareness training vary significantly across the country, ranging from £79 to £100 depending on location.
Drivers can choose to attend courses in any region, leading some to search for the cheapest online options.
Gooding criticised the price variation depending on the region, saying that it didn’t make sense, especially when it can be done online.
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He added: “It is noticeable that the price of courses varies across the country, which might reflect historic costs involved in setting them up, but in an online world begs a question of why this variation persists.
“Do we want a situation where drivers shop around for the best deal rather than attend a course that has been designed to reflect the local circumstances?”