Good Morning Vietnam! – speeders log in from all around the world

• A businessman has logged into a speed awareness course in Gloucestershire from Vietnam
• Some have joined from other countries in Europe and India, but no-one from as far away as Vietnam
• Last year, around 32,000 motorists who qualified, accessed the classes in Gloucestershire, which  are designed to cover most low level traffic offences
• Robert Vestey, Head of Gloucestershire Constabulary’s Non Crime Unit, said: “Speed awareness courses are designed to change drivers’ behaviour, so it’s good to see people taking it seriously and finding time to fit it into their busy schedules”

A businessman from London joined a speed awareness course in Gloucestershire when he was more than 6,000 miles away in Vietnam.

Because of the time difference, it meant that instead of starting around 13.15 like everyone else in the UK, he had to log on at 20.15.

Robert Vestey, Head of Gloucestershire Constabulary’s Non Crime Unit which manages classes on behalf of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “Speed awareness courses are designed to change drivers’ behaviour, so it was good to see this gentleman taking it seriously and finding the time to attend, even in his busy schedule.

“People have taken part from Spain, France, even India when they’ve been on holiday and that’s fine. They can link-up from anywhere and into any location in the UK, but no-one has logged onto a class in Gloucestershire from as far away as Vietnam before.

“But it’s not a punishment, it’s education. And research carried-out by the National Drivers Offending Retraining Scheme (NDORS) shows these classes do have a positive effect”.

National speed awareness courses are designed to cover the least serious ‘moving’ traffic offences. The scheme is operated by NDORS on behalf of police services who outline the types of offender and the offences. Classes moved online during the pandemic and have remained a preferred alternative to class based sessions.

Last year, around 32,000 motorists qualified for a speed awareness course run by NDORS tutors in Gloucestershire. This year that figure is expected to rise to around 38,000.

One of the reasons could be because at £85 per head, Gloucestershire courses are among the cheapest in the UK. Next year, that will go up to £87 to cover increased costs but will still be among the least expensive compared with the current average which is £91 per course and the current highest £95, charged by Hampshire and Humberside.

Police and Crime Commissioner Chris Nelson said, “People are mistaken if they think we make money out of catching speeders. We don’t. Our charges are very carefully monitored to make sure we recover the cost of the course and nothing else.

“The only reason we have had to make a slight increase is because the cost of the course is going up, but our charges in Gloucestershire remain among the lowest. It’s probably why people are prepared to log-in wherever they are in the world!”