Since it began in 2005, the Driver Awareness Scheme (DAS) has
continued to grow successfully and now educates in excess of 20,000
drivers each year.
Participants on the course are people who have been detected
committing a road traffic offence on Dorset’s roads.
Education is a key part of the work of Dorset Police to ensure
drivers are safer on the roads and the DAS course offers participants
a whole host of information and advice about safer driving.
As well as examining the consequences of excess and
inappropriate speed, using a mobile phone whilst driving or red
light offences the course also provides an opportunity for drivers
to refresh their observation and hazard perception skills.
The varied and informative content of the
course is all part of the overall aim to encourage participants
to:
- Develop a positive attitude towards
road safety
- Identify consequences of actions on the
road
- Recognise different speed limit areas
- Recognise personal responsibility
- Facilitate an opportunity to examine attitudes towards
hazard perception
The DAS
course is classroom-based and is delivered by trained driving
instructors and road safety professionals and uses a range of
interactive techniques to ensure the course is engaging for
participants.
Taking part in the Driver Awareness Scheme
If you are eligible to take part in the Driver Awareness Scheme
then you will be contacted by the administration team.
If you are eligible to take part, you will not be required to
pay a fine or receive penalty points. However, if offered the
course you will be required to pay a fee for attendance and must
respond to the offer within the stipulated timescale.
Named drivers are only permitted to attend one Driver Awareness
course within a twelve month period. If a driver subsequently
commits a further offence in a six month period after attending the
course, then that offence will be dealt with via the fixed penalty
process (fine and penalty points).
If an individual fails to attend the course or is unable to
satisfy the course conditions, then the offence will be referred to
the Dorset Police Central Ticket Office and fixed penalty
conditions will apply.
The DAS
course is also open to participants who haven’t received a fixed
penalty notice but are keen to improve their driver education. If
you’d like to come along and benefit from the expert tuition and
advice then contact the DAS admin office, on 01305
227670, to find out more and book your place. Courses are available
to attend in Bournemouth and Winfrith (near Dorchester) and
last for three hours.
The Education team also provides business driver education and
can visit individual organisations to deliver expert advice to
drivers. To find out more, contact 01305 227670.
Read
more information about the Driver Awareness Scheme on the Dorset
Road Safe website by following this link >
Driver Awareness Scheme (DAS) Speed Thresholds
The table below sets out the speed thresholds
at which you may be offered a place on the Driver Awareness Scheme
(DAS).
Please note that the offer of a
DAS course is a
decision made by the DAS office on behalf of Dorset
Police. Further details can be
found in the DAS Terms and Conditions by following this link
>
| Speed Limit |
Threshold for
DAS |
| 30 |
36mph - 42mph |
| 40 |
47mph - 53mph |
| 50 |
58mph - 64mph |
| 60 |
69mph - 75mph |
| 70 |
80mph - 86mph |
Red Light Offences
| Seconds Into
red |
Process |
| 1 to 1.9 seconds |
DAS |
| 2 to 2.9 seconds |
Fixed Penalty Notice |
| Above 3 seconds |
Court Hearing |
Other offences which may be
recommended for the Driver Awareness Scheme are listed
below:
| Using a Mobile Phone while driving |
| Driving a vehicle while not in proper control |
| Driving a vehicle without proper view |
| Exceeding a temporary speed restriction |
| Exceeding a Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) speed restriction |
| Exceeding a Passenger Carrying Vehicles (PCV) 50mph speed
limit |
| Exceeding a speed limit in an LGV/PCV |
| Contravening a Red Traffic sign at a junction |
| Contravening a stop/give way sign (Major Road Only) |
| Contravening DWLS |
| Contravening an Auto Level Crossing |
| Contravening a Red Traffic Sign at a level crossing |
| Contravening a Red Traffic Sign at road works |
| Contravening a traffic sign |
| Stopping within the approach to a Zebra/Pelican/Puffin
crossing |
| Stopping within the limits of a Zebra/Pelican/Puffin
crossing |
| Failing to accord precedent to a pedestrian at a crossing |
| Failing to comply with a red signal at a Pelican crossing |
| Overtaking a moving/stationary vehicle at a crossing |