Speeders to be offered awareness courses but funding still uncertain

Long-awaited Scottish plans for speeding drivers to be offered speed awareness courses instead of punishment depend on winning £600,000 police funding.

The money is required for a computer system to run the scheme, MSPS have been told.

However, Police Scotland said there were up to 30 other bids for funding from its capital budget, including body cameras for officers and new police vehicles.

Several MSPS expressed concern the scheme could be further delayed if the funding was not secured.

Drivers would pay for the courses instead of being fined, while being spared the usual three penalty points being added to their licence.

Chief Superintendent Garry Mcewan told the Scottish Parliament’s public petitions committee he was confident the money would be approved in December.

However, the officer said the courses would still take 12-18 months to be launched, pending an organisation being appointed to run them.

In January, the Crown Office agreed in principle to introduce courses in Scotland following their widespread use south of the Border.

That came nearly three years after Police Scotland started work on the plans.

Chief Supt Mcewan, who chairs a working group on the courses, said plans had been delayed because research into courses in England was not published until August last year, a year late.

He also admitted the study was inconclusive on their benefits. It had found no direct link to crash numbers, but the courses appeared to have had a “positive impact” on speeding.

Chief Supt Mcewan said: “It does educate rather than penalise certain driver behaviour.”

He said the working group, comprising the Crown Office, the Scottish Courts, Scottish Government and speed camera officials, was “overwhelminglysupportive”oftheprinciple of courses.

Drivers caught speeding up toathreshold–yettobeagreed – would be offered a course instead of penalty points.

Chief Supt Mcewan said that would also benefit motorists’ insurance premium levels.

He said south of the Border, speeders in 30mph zones were eligible for courses if they were caught at between 39-49mph.

Kirkcaldy SNP MSP David Torrance was among committee members expressing concern at the lack of progress.

He said pressure should be put on the Scottish Government if the funding was not approved.