Back to school for speeding drivers?

MOTORISTS caught speeding could escape fines and points on their licence under a radical overhaul being considered by the Scottish Government.

Ministers are ‘actively considering’ speed awareness courses as an alternative to prosecution.

Police Scotland and the Crown Office will examine how the scheme would operate.

Currently, motorists caught slightly over the speed limit face a £100 fine and three penalty points.

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: ‘The Scottish Government supports the general principle of driver education as an alternative to prosecution, where appropriate. The mid-term review of the Road Safety Framework identified speed as a priority area and partners reaffirmed the commitment to consider if the introduction of a Speed Awareness Scheme would be appropriate for Scotland. ‘The Framework’s Strategic Partnership Board have been actively considering the development of a robust evidence base and, together with key road safety partners such as Police Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, seeking to identify the practical steps needed to be undertaken if the courses are to be introduced in Scotland.’

Scottish drivers can be offered training courses by the courts if they are found guilty of careless driving but there is no equivalent scheme for those caught speeding.

Any change would also require the approval of the Lord Advocate.

Police Scotland chief constable Phil Gormley said courses would be ‘more effective’ than fines in helping to cut reoffending.

In parts of England, around 1.2 million people a year take speed awareness training as an alternative to prosecution. The classes run for around four hours at local centres.

Neil Greig, director of policy and research at the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: ‘On the simplest level, support for speed awareness courses is high and their effectiveness is fairly clear. At another level, however, their introduction will require detailed planning to integrate with Scottish laws and legal practice.’

A spokesman for the RAC said: ‘Although the evidence is limited, the RAC believes that the offer of educational courses, as opposed to punishment, may act as a catalyst for improved driver behaviour and could have some positive impacts upon road safety.’

New figures show the number of drivers caught speeding has dropped to a record low.

In 2015-16, 115,033 people were detected speeding by Police Scotland or the Safety Camera Unit, down marginally on 116,750 in 2014-15 and 16.5 per cent lower than 137,732 in 2013-14.