National Speed Awareness Courses: What You Need To Know

Caught speeding? 👀

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. In the UK, lots of drivers are caught speeding every day. At Marsh Finance, we know that it’s easy to creep over the limit sometimes. Picture this, you have made a minor offence. A speed awareness course can help you avoid points on your licence. Let’s go into what happens at a speed awareness course and what you need to know.

What Is A Speed Awareness Course?

Quick summary: A speed awareness course is an educational driving course offered by UK police forces as an alternative to penalty points and a speeding fine for lower-level speeding offences.

Speed awareness courses are delivered under the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS), a UK police programme designed to improve driver behaviour and reduce repeat offences. Speed awareness courses are provided at the Police’s discretion.

Who Provides Speed Awareness Courses?

Quick summary: Speed awareness courses are delivered by approved NDORS training providers on behalf of UK police forces.

Approved providers may include organisations such as TTC Group and DriveTech, with courses licensed under UKROEd guidance.

Speed Awareness Course Process

Quick summary: Drivers who receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution may be offered a speed awareness course instead of penalty points for lower-level speeding offences.

• Receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP)
• Confirm who was driving the vehicle
• Police assess eligibility
• Receive a speed awareness course offer
• Book an online or classroom course
• Attend and participate fully
• Avoid penalty points if completed successfully

Why Are Speed Awareness Courses Offered?

Quick summary: Speed awareness courses are designed to improve driver behaviour and reduce repeat speeding offences without immediately issuing penalty points for lower-level speeding offences.

Speed awareness courses are offered to educate, not punish. It’s about changing behaviour and improving your awareness of road safety.

Eligibility For The Course

Quick summary: Drivers are usually eligible for a speed awareness course if they were caught speeding within a police-approved threshold and have not attended another course within the last three years.

You can do a speed awareness course if you're caught speeding between 10% + 2mph and 10% + 9mph over the limit. For example, in a 40mph zone, you'd qualify if you were caught driving between 46mph and 53mph.

Frequency Of Attendance

Quick summary: Drivers can normally only complete one UK speed awareness course every three years under NDORS rules.

Drivers can usually only attend one UK speed awareness course every three years. If you are caught speeding again within that period, police normally issue penalty points and a speeding fine instead.

What Happens At A Speed Awareness Course?

Quick summary: A speed awareness course teaches drivers about speeding risks, stopping distances and safer driving behaviour through interactive classroom or online sessions.

A UK speed awareness course usually costs between £73 and £100 depending on the police force area and training provider. The course is designed to improve driver awareness and reduce repeat speeding offences. There are lots of topics covered on your course. These include:

• Understanding speed limits.
• The dangers of speeding.
• Responsible driving behaviour.

Course Format

Quick summary: Speed awareness courses are available online and in person, usually lasting between 2.5 and 4 hours depending on the provider and format.

Speed awareness courses last about four hours. They tend to include talks, presentations and sessions that you can get involved in. Speed awareness courses are available throughout the week, with both online and classroom-based sessions offered by approved NDORS providers.

Online Course Option

Quick summary: Many UK police forces now offer online speed awareness courses using platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

With the Covid-19 pandemic, lots of things moved online. Speed awareness courses were one of these. You can complete a course using Zoom or Microsoft Teams, which will last about two-and-a-half hours. This might sound like a while, but don't worry, you get a break!

Online Course Requirements

Drivers attending an online speed awareness course usually need a webcam, microphone, stable internet connection and a quiet private room.

After The Course

Quick summary: Drivers who successfully complete a speed awareness course normally avoid penalty points and a speeding fine for the offence.

Put your feet up once you finish the course. If you complete the speed awareness course successfully, you normally avoid penalty points and a fixed speeding fine. If you don't complete the course, you could face the original penalties.

What If…

What Happens If You Fail?

Quick summary: Drivers can fail a speed awareness course if they fail to attend, participate properly or follow course rules.

It’s hard to fail a speed awareness course, as there is no final test. However, failure to attend the course or being disruptive can lead to you being removed. If this happens, you’ll forfeit the course fee, and your case will be referred to the Police, where you could end up facing penalty points on your licence.

What Happens If You Miss The Course?

Quick summary: Missing a speed awareness course usually means the offer is withdrawn and penalty points may be issued instead.

If you miss the course, the offer will be removed and you will face penalty points on your licence.

What Happens After Completion?

Quick summary: Completing a speed awareness course successfully closes the speeding offence without penalty points being added to your licence.

Once you complete your course, your pass is registered with the Police, who close the speeding offence without issuing penalty points. However, you won’t be able to take the course for another three years, meaning that any speeding offence in this time will result in points on your licence.

What Happens If You Decline?

Quick summary: Drivers who decline a speed awareness course will normally face the standard speeding penalties for the offence.

If you decline the course, you will face the penalty points for your offence. You also won’t be able to register for a speed awareness course for another 3 years.

What Happens If You Are Not Offered One?

If you are not offered the course, it’s likely that you have already taken part in one in the last 3 years. If not, reach out to the contact details on your penalty notice.

Does A Speed Awareness Course Affect Insurance?

Quick summary: Completing a speed awareness course does not add penalty points to your licence, but some insurers may ask whether you have attended one when calculating premiums.

Some insurers may ask whether you have attended a speed awareness course, so drivers should answer honestly based on the wording of the insurance question.

Speed Awareness Course FAQs

How much does a speed awareness course cost?

The cost of a speed awareness course depends on the area, but generally courses cost between £73 and £100.

Why was I not offered a speed awareness course?

There are a few reasons why you might not have been offered a speed awareness course. These tend to be:

• You have attended a course in the last three years, and so you can't attend another just yet.
  You were well above the speed limit, and your offence is therefore seen as more serious.
• The Police may decide not to offer you a course, and they are within their rights to do so.

How long is a speed awareness course?

A UK speed awareness course lasts 2 hours and 45 minutes, with regular breaks available. You are also able to take the course from home.

What happens on an online speed awareness course?

An online speed awareness course is in the same style as a traditional course, just over a digital screen. You will take part with others, likely in a zoom call, in which you cover the following areas:

• The consequences of speeding.
• The benefits of speed limits.
• Driver responsibility.

You don't have to take a test to pass the online speed awareness course, but must complete the full session to pass. You could be asked questions during the course, but these don't decide whether you pass or fail.

How often can you do a speed awareness course?

In the UK, drivers can normally only complete one speed awareness course every three years under NDORS rules.

Applying For Car Finance With Marsh Finance

Speed awareness courses might be tricky. But applying for car finance with us is not. Use our car finance calculator to predict monthly payments. Our 30-second pre-approval process can give you a decision with no impact on your credit score. Click here to check it out. You can also browse our car marketplace to find and finance your dream car in one place.

Final Thoughts

A speed awareness course is a good way to learn about road safety and avoid penalties. They stress the importance of safe driving while helping drivers avoid higher insurance costs and other penalties. Staying informed and following speed limits is crucial for safe driving. 🚗💡🚦

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