Courses aimed at educating millions of drivers caught speeding receives a top award from Royalty

The National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS), which provides a range of educational courses for motorists, including the National Speed Awareness Course, received the Premier Award in the Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards 2012.
The scheme, which is developed with the help of leading driver academics, was given the award for the most outstanding contribution to road safety and was presented during a ceremony by HRH Prince Michael of Kent in the Savoy Hotel in London on Tuesday. (11.11.12)

NDORS courses, supported by the Association of Chief Police Officers, are offered by the majority of UK police forces and mean drivers who commit a low level offence can be re-educated on road safety instead of facing prosecution.
Since 2010, more than two million motorists have attended NDORS courses, which are designed to target different types of motoring offenders.

ACPO lead for roads policing, Deputy Chief Constable Suzette Davenport, said: “It is an honour to win such a prestigious award against such fierce competition.
“It is a testimony to everybody who has contributed to the scheme over the years.
“We are incredibly proud of the NDORS scheme and the important role it plays in casualty reduction, and we are delighted that it has been recognised in such a significant way.”
Research carried out for NDORS has shown driver re-education is highly effective in improving long-term behaviour on the roads. When compared to fines and licence penalty points, education has a more lasting impact on motorists’ attitudes to driving safely.

The NDORS scheme also includes the National Driver Alertness Course; RIDE for motorcyclists; the National Seatbelt Course; and two newly created courses, What’s Driving Us and Driving 4 Change.

Announcing the Premier Award winner, Prince Michael said: “I fully appreciate police resources are currently very restricted so we all welcome new technology as a way of countering this. We also know that without sound education we will make little progress. Where we are able to combine these two we are onto a winner.
“It is for this reason that I’m pleased to announce my Premier Award winner as the National Driver Offender Re-Training Scheme.”

Strategic manager for NDORS, Jerry Moore, said: “Drivers are often sceptical and think the courses will lecture them about road safety but in fact they find them enjoyable, interactive and very informative.
“Police forces across the country receive letters from drivers telling them the course has changed their attitude and behaviour on the road. This can only be of great benefit to our aim of reducing road casualties.”

• The first driver retraining course was conceived and implemented initially by the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, Devon Crown Prosecution Service and Devon County Council in 1991 under the title of the ‘Driver Improvement Scheme’ and won a PMIRSA in 1997. Since that time, the scheme has grown from its original local roots to a national system.
• There is no draw on the public purse and the money generated by the authorities through NDORS is diverted back into road safety, with the costs for administration and delivery of the course being met by the driver.
• On completion of the course, the original offence lapses and no further action is taken in relation to prosecution. If the offender refuses the offer of a driver education course, the case reverts to a standard criminal justice process.
• For more information, or photographs from the awards ceremony, visit www.roadsafetyawards.com Photographs are expected to appear on the website on Tuesday (11.12.12) evening.

For more information please contact:

ACPO Press Office
Association of Chief Police Officers
e: press.office@acpo.pnn.police.uk