Safe and considerate driving course

If you have been in a road traffic collision, and been driving without care, attention or reasonable consideration, the police can give you the opportunity to go on a one-day course to help you keep to the law in future.

You can only go on this course if you have had a police letter giving you the choice to attend.

Who is it for?

To qualify for the course, you must have:

been involved in a road traffic collision; and
been driving without care and attention or without reasonable consideration of other road users; and
not taken a similar awareness course in the three years before your most recent offence.

You must complete the course within four months of the incident.

After completing the course, there’ll be no further action taken for the offence. But if you book a course, and don’t turn up, the case goes to the Court.

What sort of course is it?

It’s a mixture of a classroom setting and driver training on the road, run by qualified trainers. You’ll be with other people who have committed a similar offence.

In the driving session you’ll be with an experienced advanced driving coach in a car we supply. You may share the driving time with another person on the course: when you’re a passenger you will observe the other driver and the trainer.

You’ll learn how to reduce risks, recognise things that influence how you drive, and see how to be safer on the road.

You must pass a normal driver eyesight test, but there’s no other test. We provide a car for the on-road training.

How much does it cost?

It costs £185, but when you have completed the course you don’t have to go to court or pay a fine, and you don’t get points on your licence.

When and where?

The courses are held at Bolton or Trafford from 9:30am until 4:30pm - subject to availability.

To go on a course in another part of the country, go to: National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme

To book your course you will need:

Your police reference number and PIN (shown on your police course offer letter).
To pay £185 (Visa or MasterCard).
To be aware of our terms and conditions and privacy notice (below).

We are currently only able to accept bookings for the Safe and Considerate Driving course by phone:

Please call us on 0300 123 1518 (we're open Monday to Friday 8:30am until 3:00pm excluding bank holidays).

We can currently only accept bookings from clients who live in the Greater Manchester area or have been offered a course by Greater Manchester Police.

Book your course

Check or rearrange your course date

If you have already booked your course, you can check the venue, date and time.

You can change your course date up to the day before – although it must still be within the deadline set by the police.

If the course is 14 or more days ahead, it’s free to rearrange.

But if it is less than 14 days away it costs £130.

Check or rearrange your course

1. Course Provider
The Scheme is administered and delivered by DriveSafe on behalf of the referring Police Force. The Scheme is run in accordance with national guidelines required by UK Road Offender Education.

2. Time Limits
It is a condition of the course offer that you complete the course within a period of time imposed by the referring Police Force. If you are unable to complete the course within this timescale for whatever reason, you are no longer eligible and your offer of a course will be withdrawn. The Police are at liberty to withdraw the course offer at any time up to the point that you have successfully completed the course.

3. Course Fees
The course fee must be paid in full at least 21 days prior to the course (if booking online the full course fee must be paid at the time of booking a course by debit / credit card). If you are unable to attend the course date allocated to you, you must contact us immediately to arrange an alternative date. By agreeing to the course fee, you are also agreeing that should you re-arrange a course with less than 14 days notice prior to your course date an additional fee of £130.00 will be payable. You may only book / re-arrange a course a maximum of 3 occasions. Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, you have the right to cancel your course within 14 days (the “Cancellation Period”) from the date on which you booked the course. However, your right to cancel and obtain a full refund will be lost if you book a course date during the Cancellation Period (in these circumstances you are entitled to a partial refund of £55.00 and you should contact us to arrange this).

If you are bringing your own interpreter to the course, you must notify us in advance of their name and to ensure that there is sufficient space available (they must be at least 16 years and preferably a driver). It is essential interpreters bring photographic identification to the course. There is no extra charge to bring your own interpreter. However if you wish us to book a professional interpreter for you, there will be a charge for this (please contact us for more information). If you need a British Sign Language Interpreter (BSL), please notify us at the time of booking - there is no charge for this. However if a BSL interpreter is booked and you fail to attend the course, there will be a charge for the interpreter to attend a further course with you.

4. Identification
It is essential you bring your photocard driving licence to the course. If you are unable to bring your driving licence you must contact us before your course date. If you have an old style paper driving licence, you must also bring a passport or similar photographic means of identification. If you hold a non-European driving licence you must bring your passport and any other appropriate documents showing date of entry into the UK. We can only accept original identification (electronic copies or photocopies cannot be accepted). Should you be unable to produce the required documentation, this will be classed as failure to attend. It is an offence to attempt to illegally misrepresent the true identity of another driver of a motor vehicle by attending the course in place of someone else.

5. Failure to Attend
If you fail to attend a course, or are refused entry to a course if you are unable to produce the required documentation, it may be possible to offer you an alternative course date subject to availability and the Police time limit. This is subject to payment of an additional fee of £130.00. If you fail to attend a course due to illness, the additional fee may be waived upon receipt of medical evidence (e.g. doctor’s note).

Late arrivals will not be allowed to participate. We recommend that you locate the venue prior to the course date. You must arrive promptly at the stated time on the day of the course. If an alternative course is not available, or not requested, your file will be returned to the Police for further action.

6. Course Checklist
A course checklist will be provided. It is recommended you use this checklist to ensure you will be allowed to participate.

It is a condition that you present yourself in a fit state to drive, having had proper rest and not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. You must be appropriately dressed for the consideration of other clients – no work clothes such as overalls or muddy boots as you will be driving a trainer’s car. You must ensure you can read a vehicle number plate (newer style) from 20m (66 feet) – if you need glasses or contact lenses make sure you bring them with you. Every effort will be made to accommodate any special requirements you may have provided you have notified us. If no indication has been made we cannot be held responsible should you be unable to complete the course. There is no course test, pass or fail. To complete the course you must attend all sessions on time, complete all course paperwork, make a positive contribution and demonstrate a willingness to improve your driving skills. However, any abusive or inappropriate language, threatening or disruptive behaviour towards either our staff or other clients will result in you being removed from the course.

7. Non-Completion
If you fail to comply with these Terms & Conditions, you will be certified as non-completion. In such cases the offer of a Diversionary Course will be withdrawn and your file will be returned to the Police for further action. In these circumstances you are entitled to a partial refund of £55.00 and you should contact us to arrange this. Any course refund will be made using the same method of payment as originally used.

8. Course Cancellation
In the unlikely event we are unable to deliver a course due to reasons beyond our control, we will reschedule your course as soon as possible within the time limit imposed by the Police at no additional cost to you. DriveSafe shall not be liable for any fees, costs and/or any other expenses incurred by you as a result of a cancelled course.

9. Medical Fitness to Drive
By accepting these Terms & Conditions, you confirm you have read the Medical Fitness to Drive information accompanying your Police course offer letter.