West Midlands claims largest DIS scheme in country

A number of authorities in the West Midlands have combined with the local police authority to manage what they believe to be the largest driver improvement scheme in the country. The authorities participating in the scheme are; Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

The scheme enables drivers convicted of section three driving offences (driving without due care and attention) to opt for a one and a half day driver refresher course at their own expense rather than receive a fixed penalty notice. "We established the DIS in 1998 and since then some 5,776 drivers have benefited from retraining," says Mark Rickard, who is chairman of the providers group and Walsall’s principal RSO. "The fee for the course was £100 back in ’98 and has risen to £145 today, meaning some £722,000 has been invested in retraining by drivers."

In terms of administration, the police authority refers clients who elect to participate rather that go to court. The participating authorities have established the West Midlands Driver Improvement Scheme Providers Group which appoints trainers - self employed advanced (approved) driving instructors - to carry out the training at centres managed by RSOs from the appropriate authority. All referrals are administered by Dudley council’s driver training unit, which receives client details from 22 local police criminal justice units and other schemes across the country.

Local authorities in the West Midlands have been working together to promote road safety for many years, and as a result the number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents fell by 39 per cent between 1990 and 2000.

The authorities will be organizing a series of seminars to disseminate experiences gained while running the driver improvement scheme and to present other examples of good practice.

For further information about this story please contact Mark Rickard by email at RickardM@walsall.gov.uk