A significant number of drivers are paying more than necessary for speed awareness courses due to a lack of transparency in pricing, with potential savings of up to 20% often going unclaimed. A record 1.85 million motorists attended these courses last year, a 12% increase from the previous year and a 70% rise over five years, according to the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme. This surge is partly attributed to the increasing implementation of 20mph speed limits, which have led to a 505% leap in drivers caught by speed cameras in these zones over the past three years.
Speed awareness courses are offered as an alternative to penalty points on a driving license for minor speeding offenses. Drivers typically receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution within 14 days of an offense. After confirming the driver's identity, they are presented with three options: attend a speed awareness course, accept a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice and three points, or face a court summons for more severe infractions. Failure to respond can result in six points and a £1,000 fine.
If a driver opts for the course, they access a website using a reference code to find available providers, locations, and course formats (in-person or online). However, prices are only revealed after a provider and date are selected, leaving drivers with little opportunity to compare costs. Fees range from £82 to £100, with online courses covering the same material as in-person sessions.
Motorists can save nearly 20% by choosing the cheapest available course, but identifying these requires a time-consuming process of contacting each provider individually. Money Mail has compiled a price list to assist drivers, noting that providers include local authorities and private firms.
Campaigners criticize the current system, with one motorist describing the courses as a "cash cow" and feeling "robbed" due to the high cost and perceived lack of educational value. Another argues that driving is increasingly focused on avoiding speed traps rather than improving driving skills. Conversely, others view the courses as a valuable educational opportunity that is funded through fees instead of points on a license, with driving forces having operational flexibility that accounts for price variations.
The revenue generated from these courses is substantial, with an estimated £170 million collected annually. Under the current system, 6% of the course fee goes to UK Road Offender Education (UKROEd), a part of the Road Safety Trust. Police forces receive 52% to cover administrative costs, and the remaining 42% goes to the company or local authority running the course.
Officials state that the policing element is set nationally at £50 per course to ensure administrative costs are covered and to encourage driver behavior change. They emphasize the responsibility of all road users to make safe decisions.
Campaigners are pushing for 20mph limits to become the standard in urban areas, which would likely increase the number of drivers eligible for and attending speed awareness courses, further boosting revenue. The Home Office oversees the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme.
Drivers caught speeding between 10% plus 2mph and 10% plus 9mph above the limit are typically eligible for a course. For example, in a 20mph zone, this applies to speeds up to 31mph; in a 30mph zone, up to 42mph; and on a 70mph limit, up to 86mph. Exceeding these speeds can result in a Fixed Penalty Notice, points, or more severe penalties, including driving bans for accumulating too many points over time.