West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster has hailed the launch of new speed awareness courses delivered by police to make the region’s roads safer.
The PCC said he was pleased West Midlands Police has now started delivering the courses in-house, which will help motorists drive safer in future, potentially saving lives and preventing serious injury.
More than 160 people took part in the first speed awareness course delivered by the force, as the PCC’s plans to reduce the number of people being killed or seriously injured on the region’s roads took another step forward.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents say that drivers and riders who exceed the speed limit are more likely to be involved in a collision and their higher speed means the collision will cause more severe injuries, to themselves and/or to other road users.
That’s why speeding is classed as one of the fatal four – the four main causes of deaths on the road. We know it is an ongoing cause of concern for people and often raised in community meetings, via surveys and on social media.
Most courses across the UK are delivered by private, profit-making businesses making WMP the largest of only seven forces in the UK to now deliver this safety training.
The courses – delivered online or in person – are offered to people caught speeding and are an alternative to a fine or points on their licence.
Using a range of interactive and informative modules the force trainers help motorists expand their understanding of speed limits and recognise the negative consequences of speeding, in order to change behaviours and reduce reoffending.
The courses are paid for by the drivers, meaning the scheme is self-funding with all staffing and operational costs covered. The aim is that it will also pay for additional enforcement and equipment for traffic operations such as window tint measuring devices, breathalysers, speed guns and stingers.
These will be used to improve road safety where there is evidence of concerns in particular locations.
Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster said: “I am pleased that West Midlands Police have decided to take on these speed awareness courses in house.
“Not only will they educate drivers and prevent and tackle crime and ASB on our roads, but they will also help resource further enforcement and safety measures on our roads. Together, this should contribute to a reduction in the number of people being tragically and avoidably killed and seriously injured on our roads.
“This is an innovative scheme that will have positive benefits and will sit alongside the many other measures I am working on, together with partners, to make our roads in the West Midlands safer.”
Once the initiative makes a surplus, it is intended that community groups will be able to bid for funding for local road safety initiatives, with the potential for the scheme to have an even bigger impact.
Fifteen jobs have been created through the initiative, known as Safer Roads for West Midlands and there are plans to create apprentice posts as the scheme grows.
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