In 2006, the number of motoring offences dealt with by official police action was 12.7 million. Of these, almost 2 million (15.5%) were speeding offences, 91% of which were dealt with by issuing a fixed penalty/fixed charge notice. Speed awareness courses, offered at the discretion of police forces around the UK, provide an educational alternative to traditional penalties for drivers caught speeding within a specified range. The aim of the courses is to deter future speeding behaviour through a comprehensive programme of education on the potential dangers of speeding behaviour. The Department for Transport commissioned MVA Consultancy and the University of Strathclyde to: devise a methodology suitable for any later evaluation of the road safety impact of speed awareness courses; and propose and recruit a suitable ‘control group’ for any later evaluation, and collect comprehensive data from them. This control group is a sample of drivers who would have been eligible to take part in a speed awareness course, but who were not given this option because a course is not currently offered in their area. (Author/publisher) This report may be accessed by Internet users at http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme5/
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