The research provides evidence that the National Speed Awareness course produces positive changes in attitudes with drivers perceiving fewer advantages and more disadvantages of speeding.
The National Speed Awareness Course provides an alternative to prosecution for drivers caught speeding a little above the speed limit (speed limit +10% + 2–6mph at the time of data collection).
The provision of a common national course means that drivers can choose a course from any of the participating providers, which therefore makes the course more accessible. There are two core versions of the course: those based solely in a training room lasting four hours; and those based both in a car and a training room lasting five hours. In addition, a shorter three-and-a-half hour course is being piloted in one area.
Data were collected from consecutive courses run in the participating sites during the initial data collection period from September to December 2010. A total of 2,070 clients took part in the research, most of whom were driving a car at the time of their offence, and slightly more were on a social or domestic journey (55%) than were driving for work (29%) or commuting (11%). Clients completed three questionnaires: one before the course; one after the course; and a follow-up questionnaire three months after the course.
An excellent response rate of 31% was achieved at follow-up, which gives us confidence that our findings on the long-term effects of the course are valid. Six focus groups were conducted with participants to explore their perceptions of the course, any changes to their driving following the course, and the reasons for any changes (or lack of changes).
The research provides evidence that the National Speed Awareness course produces positive changes in attitudes with drivers perceiving fewer advantages and more disadvantages of speeding. The course makes it easier for clients to identify the speed limit for the area in which they are travelling and produces greater intentions to drive within the speed limit in the future.
Previous research for the Department for Transport (Stephenson et al., 2010) showed that clients who were not offered a course did not show these increases. These changes are maintained at follow-up, indicating that the course provides clients with continued protection. The course produces approximately the same effects in males as in females with the exception of beliefs about how bad speeding is: the course helps males to “catch up” with females so that they view speeding in urban areas as just as bad as females do.
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Brainbox Research
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