Dated: 19 May 2023
POLICY TITLE: National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS)
OWNING DIRECTORATE: Force Coordination
AUTHOR: Chief Inspector, Tactical Operations
CONTACT DETAILS: 101
EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT: Complete
AIM OF POLICY: To provide an outline of the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme, which is an educational alternative to prosecution for certain road traffic offences. It also outlines information regarding offences committed by staff, both on-duty and off-duty.
BENEFIT OF POLICY: The policy provides clarity to staff regarding the Force approach to the use of the scheme.
REASON FOR POLICY: The scheme is aimed at improving driving standards through re-training in suitably identified cases as an alternative to prosecution.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The NDORS is a collective term for six diversionary schemes involving the referral of drivers for education as an alternative to prosecution / issue of fixed penalty notices, and comprises:
- Safe and Considerate Driving Course and National Ride Intervention Developing Experience (RIDE) - The Safe and Considerate Driving Course replaced the National Driver Alertness Course (NDAC) in April 2018. The aim of both the Safe and Considerate Driving Course and RIDE Scheme are to correct driver behaviour. They are an alternative to prosecution for careless driving offences arising out of collisions, or specific targeted operations. There must be sufficient evidence to support a prosecution for careless driving under Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act (1998).
- National Speed Awareness Course (NSAC) - aimed at drivers and riders who have exceeded the speed limit up to the agreed threshold currently set at 10% + 2 through to 10% + 9 excluding 20mph zones.
- National Seat Belt Course - Your Belt Your Life - for those offenders caught not wearing a seatbelt, where there is no exemption.
- What's Driving Us? Course - for those drivers where the evidence suggests by an act or omission their offending was intentional or deliberate. Mobile phone use, contravening a red light, or a non-collision related careless offence could be considered for this type of course.
- National Motorway Awareness Course – Encourages people to increase awareness of new smart motorway laws, including variable speed limits, red x’s and the use of the hard shoulder on the motorway network.
The training courses are built upon the premise that an improvement in driving skills, attitudes and behaviour will reduce the risk of a future blameworthy collision for the driver concerned. The schemes are administered by an external service provider (DriveTech) and are funded from the fees charged to delegates.
Northumbria Police will participate in the NDORS to reinforce its commitment to improving road safety in the region through a partnership approach, and assist in addressing the strategic priorities contained in the Roads Policing Policy regarding promoting road safety and patrolling the roads.
The Fixed Penalty Unit (FPU) is responsible for the administration of all driver referrals arising from the scheme.
The principles of NDORS will apply to Northumbria Police officers and staff as follows:
Safe and Considerate Driving Course and National RIDE
i) On duty officers attending a high priority call or in a pursuit situation
If a file of evidence has been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for a decision as to whether the driver should be prosecuted, and the CPS recommend proceedings which would normally attract the offer of a Safe and Considerate Driving or National RIDE Course for members of the general public, the CPS will be invited to consider whether such a course would be appropriate for an officer. If the CPS consider that it is appropriate, then the officer should be offered a Safe and Considerate Driving or National RIDE Course and it is for them to decide to attend the course or to elect a court appearance. If the officer decides to attend a Safe and Considerate Driving or National RIDE Course, they will be expected to meet the full costs of the course and must undertake the course in their own time. Even after attendance at a Safe and Considerate Driving or National RIDE Course, an internal assessment of the driver may still be carried out by the Force Driving Training team and refresher training provided, where a need is identified.
ii) Police officers involved in a Road Traffic Collision (RTC) whilst on general patrol and police staff driving Force-owned vehicles
Where a police officer or a member of police staff is on duty and is driving in a general situation, (i.e. not attending a high priority call or similar at speed), and is involved in a RTC, there may be circumstances in which attendance at a Safe and Considerate Driving or National RIDE Course is offered as an alternative to prosecution. Where such an offer is made and is accepted by the driver, they will be expected to meet the full costs of the course and must undertake it in their own time.
iii) Off duty police staff and police officers
Off-duty police staff and police officers will be treated in the same manner as a member of the general public. Following the commission of a driving offence, it is possible that a driver may be offered attendance at a Safe and Considerate Driving or National RIDE Course. Where the offer of a Safe and Considerate Driving Course has been made and accepted as an alternative to prosecution, the member of staff/officer must notify their Area Commander or Head of Department.
iv) Essential and casual users involved in a RTC whilst on duty and undertaking a journey for which a claim could be made, (this includes journeys for which the public transport rate applies)
Where a member of staff/officer is involved in an RTC whilst making a journey which would attract a claim of either essential or casual user allowance, or public transport rate, and is offered and accepts a Safe and Considerate Driving or National RIDE Course as an alternative to prosecution, they will undertake the course at their own expense and in their own time.
Professional Standards will be involved in any investigation where appropriate.
Investigation of police collisions and reviews of driving authority will be considered as part of any decision making process.
National Speed Awareness Course
The National Speed Awareness Course will apply to all members of staff who are processed for speeding, subject to the threshold recommended by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC).
National RIDE/National Seat Belt Course - Your Belt Your Life/What's Driving Us? Course/National Motorway Course
These courses will apply to all members of staff who are processed for the relevant offence.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOURCE DOCUMENT: None
GROUPS AFFECTED: All staff
ACCESS AND DISCLOSURE RESTRICTIONS: None
