National Driver Improvement Schemes

History & Background

The National Driver Improvement Scheme finds its origins within the Road Traffic Law Review of 1988 known as the ‘North Report' after its author, Dr. Peter North.

"It must be in the public interest to rectify a fault rather than punish the transgressor" and "Retraining of traffic offenders may lead to an improvement in their driving, particularly if their training is angled towards their failings".
From this he recommended:
" A pilot study of training in basic driving skills should be undertaken to determine whether such retraining produces a lasting improvement in the driving skills if the offenders undertaking it." Dr. Peter North.

Following an initial experiment by Nottinghamshire Constabulary, Devon County Council and Devon and Cornwall Constabulary together with the Crown prosecution Service developed what was known at the time as the ‘Driver Rectification Scheme'.
This was launched in mid 1991.
Devon County Council undertook to provide courses for drivers who had come to Police attention for offences of driving ‘without due care and attention or reasonable consideration to other road users' where a collision had occurred. The courses addressed driver behaviour and provided remedial instruction tailored to individual needs.

In 1994 the Devon scheme was cited as ‘best practise' by Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary and began to be adopted by other Police Forces. The scheme also won the Prince Michael of Kent Road Safety award in 1996, and by now it had become ‘The National Driver Improvement Scheme'.
It again received favourable mention in HMIC's Thematic Inspection of Road Policing and Traffic 1999, and in the same year the Lynda Chalker Road Safety Award was given jointly to Devon County Council and Devon and Cornwall Constabulary for developing the National Driver Improvement Scheme.
The scheme received further favourable comment in the Government's document ‘Tomorrows Roads Safer For Everyone' as part of the road safety strategy for casualty reduction to 2010, and it is recognised by the Association of British Insurers.

As the scheme grew it became necessary to achieve standardisation and dissemination of best practise.

The Association of National Driver Improvement Scheme Providers (ANDISP) have been recognised by ACPO (the Association of Chief Police Officers) as the authoritative body for ensuring consistency in service delivery nationwide, and the maintenance of standards by continual monitoring and evaluation of schemes.
ANDISP accommodates service providers from the public and private sectors alike.

The course not only offers practical tuition by Department for Transport Approved Instructors who have undergone additional training in delivering the scheme, but also a pointed examination of driver attitudes and behaviours behind the wheel.
The National Driver Improvement Scheme is a constructive and pragmatic intervention, which contributes toward achievement of an aim we must all share - Greater Road Safety.