Awareness courses call for 20mph speeders
● Drivers could avoid fines and points under new Scottish initiative
Drivers who break Scotland’s planned new 20mph speed limits should be sent on speed awareness courses rather than being fined, a motoring group has urged MSPS.
The proposal by IAM Roadsmart comes after it emerged this week the Crown Office has agreed in principle to the courses being introduced in Scotland following their widespread use south of the Border.
Motorists taking the courses can avoid a fine and penalty points being added to their licence.
Mid Scotland and Fife Green MSP Mark Ruskell has introduced a Parliamentary bill to extend 20mph limits to most 30mph roads across Scotland where there are street lights, such as in residential areas.
In Edinburgh, where the speed limit on most roads has been reduced to 20mph since
0 Most streets in Edinburgh have had a 20mph limit since last year
last year, 55 drivers were fined, 11 reported for prosecution and 960 warned by police for breaking the limit between July 2016 and January last year.
IAM Roadsmart policy and
research director Neil Greig told the Scottish Parliament’s ruraleconomyandconnectivitycommittee,whichisconsidering Mr Ruskell’s bill: “There could be an opportunity to have a 20mph speed awareness course-type approach, so rather than issuing tickets and penalties and fines, you get the message over to them.
“If people feel they do not understand what’s going on, why the 20 is there, then put them in a room. Speed awareness courses work for other speed limits and there is a 20mph speed awareness course being developed south of the Border.
“If we do get speed awareness courses up here, then that could be a potential opportunity to educate people and raise awareness.”
The Crown Office has told the Scottish Parliament’s public petitions committee that Lord Advocate James Wolffe “has agreed in principle to the diversion at source to speed awareness courses by Police Scotland as an alternative to prosecution in appropriate cases”. A working group involving Police Scotland is to draw up plans. Mr Ruskell said two thirds of the 6,500 responses to the committee backed a “safer limit”.
However, Mr Greig added: “We think it’s too broad- brush, if you have an issue with a street and want to change behaviour, you have to change the look and feel of the street.”
Thecommitteeheardaclaim from road safety researcher Eric Bridgestock, on behalf of the Alliance of British Drivers, that cutting speed limits on residential streets could lead to an increase in road casualties. He said cyclists and pedestrians could be “lulled into a false sense of security”.