Why aren’t speed awareness courses available in Scotland? – Alastair Dalton

Little sign of progress, eight years after scheme agreed in principle

Who wouldn’t want to be told why speeding is dangerous rather than have three points added to their licence for breaking the limit? Home secretary Suella Braverman did – among some 1.5 million drivers in each of the past two years.

It’s now 20 years since speed awareness courses were launched as an alternative to the penalty, with official research showing them to be more effective at reducing re-offending.

The option seems to be a no-brainer, enabling motorists to understand the significance of the error of their ways rather than being given a slap on the wrist that might make some only become more determined to not get caught next time.

Average speed cameras were installed on the A9 between Dunblane and Inverness in 2014. Picture: Katielee Arrowsmith/HEMEDIA/SWNS Group

But if you’ve been stopped for speeding in Scotland or had a penalty notice from a Scottish speed camera through the post, you may be asking why you haven’t been given this choice. It’s because plans to introduce the courses north of the Border are still in development, an astonishing eight years after the Scottish Government agreed to them in principle.

Back in 2015, the-then transport minister Derek Mackay said he “supported the concept of driver education as an alternative to prosecution where appropriate”.

He said officials would consider whether they would be “an appropriate addition to our efforts to tackle road traffic offences in Scotland and what barriers might exist to setting them up”.

However, in 2020, Holyrood public petitions committee convener Johann Lamont expressed frustration, four years after a petition calling for the move was lodged, that “something that seems quite straightforward has taken such a long time”.

Speeders caught north of the Border do not have the option of going on a speed awareness course unlike those in England and Wales

Three more years on, when I checked with the Crown Office this week, I was surprised at how little further progress appears to have been made. While confirming the Lord Advocate – the Scottish Government’s chief legal officer – also supported the courses in principle, it said there was “further work to be done before a final decision is made”.

A group, which also involves the police and safety camera officials, are still devising “the necessary infrastructure and guidance required”.

A9: Higher speed limit signs for lorries on Scotland road are slowing down some cars

I’ve previously criticised ministers for setting unrealistic transport targets for everything from cycling to dualling the A9. But in this case, the lack of a target date is arguably even worse because the scheme appears to have been allowed to drift, with no looming deadline to provide political focus and spur to progress, along with any necessary funding required.

It’s perhaps just as important, in the interests of safety and reducing casualties, to introduce a measure that changes the mindset of errant drivers as to widen a road.

Average speed cameras have done much to eliminate the speeding culture on the A9 between Dunblane and Inverness, several other main routes and through major roadworks. However, we need drivers to want to stick with speed limits rather than only comply because cameras are watching them.

Many Scots have seen the light by going on courses in England and Wales after being caught south of the Border. But everyone driving on Scotland’s roads should be given that opportunity – and soon.