Drivers’ Centre passes the 4,000 mark

Driver Improvement is a concept that most road safety professionals are familiar with. What many may not know is that the concept was first piloted in Devon.

Since its inception, over 4,000 people have benefited from the Driver Improvement Scheme in Devon and the course has been taken up by all but two police forces in England and Wales - and is currently undergoing trials in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Every year some 25,000 people undergo Driver Improvement Courses across the UK.

The Devon Drivers’ Centre course lasts a day and a half and is operated in partnership with Devon and Cornwall Police. In 1994 Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabularies recommended the scheme as good practice.

The course re-educates drivers who have had a mishap. In cases of driving without due care and attention the police use their discretion to divert offenders to the Drivers’ Centre provided no death or serious injury was caused. Third parties are also contacted for their approval and in most cases this is given.

Once the course is completed the offence is written off. The participant receives no penalty points and the cost of the course (around £100, footed by the participant) is cheaper than the average fine. Statistics show that participants are 50 per cent less likely to re-offend.

"With most traffic offences you don’t even have to appear in court so you learn nothing except not to get caught next time," said Peter Gimber, Devon County Council’s road safety manager. "Through this course we win as a county council because drivers are more likely to avoid further accidents than they would be if they went to court. The courts also win because they aren’t cluttered with relatively minor traffic offences. And we all win because our roads are safer."

The Devon Drivers’ Centre was established in 1991 and provides practical training and education for all road-users. The Centre operates from a unique complex of purpose-built facilities near Exeter. The Centre employs four staff who work alongside Devon’s road safety officers.

The Centre has close links with the private sector and much of the tuition is provided by 40 DETR Approved Driving Instructors. The Centre has been designed for teaching both theory and applied technique. Within the building there are fully equipped lecture and conference facilities. Outside there are two areas for practical training - the Arena, which consists of 1.25 acres of unobstructed tarmac, and a specially built practice road circuit. Skid control and manoeuvring are practised on the Arena, while activities to build driver confidence and improve skills and road awareness take place on the practice circuit and on-road.

Although some specialist courses can only be delivered at the Centre itself, Devon is a big county and where possible services are made available on an ‘outreach’ basis - with approved and qualified instructors located in every part of the county.

Further information about the Devon Driver Centre can be obtained from Peter Gimber, pgimber@devon.gov.uk