Speeding Fines Less Effective Than Courses
Friday, 22. June 2018
A Government-backed study has shown that those who take the speed awareness course are 23% less likely to re-offend than those that accept the penalty points and pay the fine. Ipsos Mori analysed 2.2 million drivers caught speeding, comparing those who attended an awareness course and those who didn’t, preferring to pay the penalty.
Just 5% of those who attended a course re-offended within 6 months, compared with 7% who opted for a fixed penalty notice. The results persisted over time with 21% of those attending a course re-offending after 3 years compared to 23% who took the points.
The analysts couldn’t prove that taking the course led to fewer accidents because ‘the number of collisions, available for analysis was too small’, but Ipsos Mori said it was ‘probable’ that the courses have ‘positive road safety effects’.
Transport Minister, Jesse Norman said, ‘The National Speed Awareness Course is clearly working well in preventing drivers from putting other road users at risk by breaking speed limits’. Having attended a course a couple of years ago I agree that it has a positive affect. By Graham Hill
