Drivers who are caught breaking speed limits could be the next group to benefit from online tuition.
Along with home schooling, Pilates, yoga and many other fitness classes that have been led in homes doubling as virtual classrooms during the lockdown, speed awareness courses are due to be rolled out this month.
Actual classroom based courses stopped on 20 March with the result there is now a waiting list of around 1700.
Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl said, “Speeding while the roads have been quieter has been one of the most disappointing and dangerous aspects of lockdown. Motorists who disregard the law and other road users must know that if they are caught they will be held to account.
“Speed awareness courses play an important role in making our roads safer”.
Microsoft-based trials relating to motorways, speed and other driving habits have already been carried out successfully, and the final touches are being added to a speed awareness course run by the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS).
The manager responsible for driver education in Gloucestershire David Hawker said, “We piloted trials in late May with 60 or so clients. The feedback has been universally positive and has encouraged us to extend the programme and to have more of our presenters trained to deliver them.
“We have now booked an additional 300 or so clients with more booking daily. Everyone who has been offered driver education will be offered the on line alternative until the classroom alternative can be safely delivered within updated Government guidelines”.
