No timescale to introduce courses for speeders
Police Scotland has admitted there is still no timescale for introducing re-education classes for speeders as an alternative to penalties, six years after they gained the support of ministers.
Millions of motorists have paid the equivalent of their fines to enrol on courses in England and Wales instead of penalty points being added to licences.
However, motoring groups reacted with exasperation at the lack of progress north of the Border.
A year ago, Holyrood public petitions committee convener Johann Lamont expressed frustration that “something that seems quite straightforward has taken such a long time” after it considered a petition calling for the courses since 2016.
The committee agreed to wind up the petition because it accepted there was a commitment to their introduction, but hoped the “operational and financial assessments” required “will be done at pace rather than be left to lie”.
In 2015, then transport minister Derek Mackay said he “supported the concept of driver education as an alternative to prosecution where appropriate”.
The police has been developing plans with the Crown Office, which agreed to the courses in principle two years ago. But the force said it was unable to say when they would be introduced.
Chief Superintendent Garry Mcewan said: “A multi-agency group has been established to examine the logistical and operational framework of offering any motorists caught speeding the opportunity to enrol in a speed awareness course. Further agreements in relation to the parameters of the scheme must be finalised.
“Following the completion of the new IT system pilot in Tayside, our joint focus will be considering next steps including any procurement requirements.”
Neil Greig, the Scotlandbased policy and research director of the IAM Roadsmart motoring group, said: “It’s ridiculous that it is taking so long after all the reports and working parties that were supposed to be looking at it.
“There is a perfectly acceptable model running in England that is offering courses to over a million drivers a year.
“The research is also clear that those who take courses are less likely to re-offend.”
AA president Edmund King said: “Speed awareness courses have been successful south of the border for many years, so one has to question why progress has been so slow in Scotland.”
The courses are offered to drivers caught marginally above the limit.
They generally run for drivers caught at up to 10 per cent above the limit plus 9mph – such as up to 42mph in a 30mph limit or 86mph in a 70mph limit.
While the motorists still have
to pay the equivalent of their fine, the incentive is not having penalty points added to their licences, which often lead to their insurance premiums being increased.
Participants are not required
to “pass” the course as it does not involve a test.
They are simply required to “complete the course in a satisfactory way”.