The Driver Improvement Scheme traces its origins back to the Road Traffic Act review in the late eighties. This review, called the North Report, concluded that prosecuting drivers/riders for Careless Driving offences and imposing fines and penalty points did not tackle the root cause of the offence i.e. driver/rider error. With over 95% of all crashes resulting from human error additional training was suggested.

Since then the Scheme has spread throughout England and Wales and more recently into parts of Scotland. The Scheme is delivered by Service Providers who consist of a variety of private companies and local County Council Road Safety Offices. Because the Scheme is on a national level, the Association of National Driver Improvement Scheme Providers (ANDISP) has been established to ensure consistency of training delivery.

ANDISP represent all providers on a Government, Ministerial and Department for Transport level. For more information visit www.driver-improvement.org.uk

Scientific studies by University of Exeter in the late nineties have shown a tendency for less re-offending after attendance on a Driver Improvement Scheme. Current research is being undertaken by University of Leeds.

With over 3,500 drivers killed and over 40,000 seriously injured i.e. life changing injuries on UK roads every year, the Scheme has become a major ingredient in the Government’s task of reducing the casualty rate by a significant amount by the year 2012.

• Tell me more about the Courses
• Tell me more about the research into this concept