Been caught speeding? If it’s your first offence you may be offered a speed awareness course. This is a workshop, usually lasting a few hours, that will help you understand the risks of speeding while offering essential tips on road safety.
You have to pay to take the speeding course, but if you do the course, you can avoid getting any points on your licence.
What Happens During a Speed Awareness Course?
The course usually takes place in person and will last between 2.5 and 4.5 hours, with a break or two. Using a combination of presentations, workshops, and discussions, you will learn:
- The risks of speeding.
- How speeding affects other road users.
- How to identify the speed limit of any road in the UK (read our guide to spotting speed limits).
- The benefits of keeping to speed limits (it can be more fuel efficient).
- How to avoid speeding in future.
Do You Have to Pass a Speed Awareness Course? Is There a Test?
No, there isn’t a formal test at the end of a speed awareness course. However, you are expected to actively participate in discussions. The course facilitators will be looking for a genuine willingness to engage, learn, and improve your driving habits.
If you’re dismissive, uncooperative, or disruptive during the session, this may be noted. Facilitators are required to inform the police whether or not you’ve successfully completed the course.
Likewise, if you fail to attend, arrive late, or don’t complete the course within the specified time frame, your eligibility will be withdrawn. In that case, you’ll likely have to pay the original speeding fine, and points may be added to your driving licence.
Who Runs the Speed Awareness Course?
The National Speed Awareness Course (NSAC) is run by Trusted Training and Compliance (TTC). It is part of the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS) and is licensed by UKROEd.
Learn more about NSAC on the official TTC Group website.
What Happens If You’re Caught Speeding After a Speed Awareness Course?
You are only eligible to do one speed awareness course every three years. So if you’re caught speeding again within three years of completing the course, then you will have no choice but to pay the speeding fine and get penalty points on your licence.
If you’re caught speeding three years or more following the speed awareness course, then the police might offer you another speed awareness course in lieu of the fine and the points. But it all depends on how much you were speeding. You will likely not be offered a speeding course for serious speeding offences.
Car Insurance For Drivers With Points or Convictions
If you’ve got penalty points on your licence, or spent or unspent convictions on your driver record, then you may struggle to find affordable car insurance.
At Go Girl, we understand that all drivers need cover, and we’re always happy to help convicted drivers with points on their licence. Learn more about our convicted driver insurance.
