The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the face of driver offender rehabilitation almost overnight with its educational programme – governed by UKROEd – successfully moving online. However, there remains much work to be done to ensure it is a long-term, research proven solution.
Making the switch to virtual course facilitation, the UK’s largest provider of UK Road Offender Education (UKROEd) accredited courses – TTC Group which typically delivers courses to around 38,000 people per month – worked in partnership with the not-for-profit company to provide a seamless service provision throughout lockdown.
The move saw the transfer of all pre-booked ‘physical’ National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS) course attendees to a digital solution, helping to protect all road users throughout the pandemic’s restrictions.
TTC Group provides NDORS on behalf of 14 Police forces throughout England, Scotland and Wales.
Adapting quickly in light of the pandemic TTC Group, in partnership with UKROEd, has seen support for virtual courses continue to gain traction from all stakeholders. Course availability, time saved and travel requirements have all been identified as key benefits.
Virtual classrooms have also given rise to specific benefits for special populations – individuals overseas, those in rural areas and, more specifically, TTC Group hosted a course dedicated to the hard of hearing. This enabled the course to be run with two British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreters catering specifically for the small group.
Sharon Haynes, TTC Group’s Client Services Director, said, ‘The move to providing a digital classroom during lockdown really serves to highlight the strength of partnership we have with UKROEd. We transitioned almost overnight and kept ahead of all pre-scheduled appointments whilst also managing to accommodate more.
‘This really did change the face of the driver offender rehabilitation programme and acts as a great template to consider what we can do in association with UKROEd moving ahead to benefit all key stakeholders from individual drivers, police forces, other road users and employers alike.
‘However, there is still much work to be done behind the scenes and we are working alongside UKROEd to ensure the emerging benefits are supported by key data insights.’
With many forces witnessing an increase in speeding offences during lockdown, and the continued Covid-19 related restrictions, TTC Group suggests the importance of easy access to the driver rehabilitation programme continues to be key.
Sharon added, ‘It’s all about making a positive difference, whether that is by creating safer motorists or by addressing key social issues in the areas we operate in. Online or in person these rehabilitation programmes can have a positive, life changing influence on people and it is so important to offer as many people as possible convenient access to them.
‘The move to virtual classrooms continues to prove a major success and we look forward to understanding more of the impact of this in the near future.’
UKROEd conducts the management and administration of the NDORS Scheme on behalf of Road Safety Trust.
The driver rehabilitation programme courses are offered by UK police forces to drivers who commit offences as an alternative to prosecution, fine and/or points on the licence. If drivers choose not to participate in the course the Police will make contact to advise the driver directly about the next steps available.
Courses currently available in digital classroom format include: National Speed Awareness Course; National Motorway Awareness; Safe and Considerate Driving; and What’s Driving Us?
*Article Source www.nobullcomms.co.uk
