All classroom based education courses – offered to some offenders as an alternative to penalty points and fines – have been suspended for an initial 12-week period.
The decision to suspend the courses was made by UKROEd – the organisation who operates and manages the NDORS scheme on behalf of the police service – in light of Government advice on coronavirus.
It came into effect on 20 March – and will last for a minimum of 12 weeks.
Among the courses impacted are the National Speed Awareness Course (NSAC), Safe and Considerate Driving (SCD) course and the National Motorway Awareness Course (NMAC).
UKROEd is now working with course providers to establish options to deal with drivers who have already been offered a course.
A statement reads: “This is the right thing to do to help protect individual’s health and reduce the risks associated with a wider spread of the virus.
“We will now work with forces and course providers to establish options to deal with drivers who have already been offered a course.
“You will be contacted to explain what is going to happen next by the police force who issued you the offer or your course provider (if you booked a course).
“You will hopefully understand that this is a massive undertaking and we would ask that you allow the police and course providers some time to work through everything.”
I guess the next three months will be a speeding free-for all then as officers are diverted to other duties. Quiet roads will encourage more people to drive faster – I saw loads of motorcyclists out on the roads this Sunday.
It’s probably a net benefit for road safety though with everyone staying indoors. The roads are going to be great for cycling!
Simon Jones
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