Driver Awareness

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For Driver Awareness Scheme (DAS), Motorcycle Awareness Programme (MAP) or Safer better driving (SBD) courses click here 

 

Driver Awareness Scheme (DAS) Web Seminar

If you are eligible, Dorset Police have now developed an online Driver Awareness Scheme Course.  The course will be a 3 hour webinar (web seminar) where you will be in a virtual classroom with other participants and two course tutors, there will also be a workbook  link that you will receive with your course invite which must be completed prior to the course and is integral to the disposal and an essential part of the process.

For the British Sign Language workbook version click here

For the British Sign Language 'How the webinar works' click here

To be able to participant you will need the following;

  • A computer or tablet with webcam and microphone capability
  • A good internet connection
  • A quiet room away from distractions during the course
  • A computer or mobile device using either Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge with Webcam (you may need to download an app to use your camera as a webcam depending on your device) and microphone capability (mobile phones are not recommended). The device needs to be able to run a slideshow and videos which is not suitable for a smart phone. Work computers or devices should NOT be used as company firewalls may prevent you from accessing the course

    Aim:

    To create safer, more responsible, and considerate road users that will contribute to reducing risks.

    Objectives:

    By the end of the course clients should be able to:

    • Identify where you are most at risk and why.
    • Recognise the impact of Saccadic Masking on driving.
    • Give examples of what influences driver attitude.
    • Explain the consequences of your actions on the road.
    • Identify coping strategies for reducing driver workload.
    • Recognise absolute personal responsibility for Road Safety.

For more information on how the webinar works click here

Motorcycle Awareness Programme (MAP)

The Motorcycle Awareness Programme (MAP) is a 3 hour on-line webinar, delivered by highly qualified and experienced Road Safety professionals. Participants on the course are people who have been detected committing a road traffic offence on Dorset’s roads while riding a motorcycle and have been offered the education course as an alternative to a fixed penalty.

The MAP course explores different types of rider and motives to ride and what influences the way people ride. The programme provides coping strategies and action planning techniques to assist individuals reduce their risk on the road.

The programme also covers barriers to riding safely e.g. stress and fatigue, and contains material to help participants deal with these. It also provides an opportunity for riders to refresh their observation and hazard perception techniques, take personal responsibility and set goals.

Before taking part in the MAP webinar you must complete all sections and exercises in a pre-course workbook, in preparation, which takes about an hour. The Workbook will take you through some background learning for the modules that you will cover during the webinar and gives some information about the many human factors that affect your riding abilities.

The MAP is also open to any riders keen to reduce their risk on the road. If you’d like to come along and benefit from the expert tuition and advice, email driverawareness@dorset.pnn.police.uk or call the DAS admin office on 01202 227549, to find out more and book your place.

Each course is run by two tutors and is a mixture of group discussion and coping strategies that will enable participants to explore what influences their decision making when using the road.

You will also receive the workbook link with your course invite which must be completed prior to the course and is integral to the disposal and an essential part of the process.

To be able to participant you will need the following;

  • A computer or tablet with webcam and microphone capability
  • A good internet connection
  • A quiet room away from distractions during the course
  • A computer or mobile device using either Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge with Webcam (you may need to download an app to use your camera as a webcam depending on your device) and microphone capability (mobile phones are not recommended). The device needs to be able to run a slideshow and videos which is not suitable for a smart phone. Work computers or devices should NOT be used as company firewalls may prevent you from accessing the course

For more information on how the webinar works click here

The webinar courses use a range of interactive techniques to ensure the course is engaging for everyone. We will look at attitude and behaviour and how stress and emotion affects our driver decision making, and ensure we help you to develop your own coping strategies.  Also, helping you to set some personal goals for the future.

If you would like to take part in a webinar course and have received an offer of a course, please contact the Driver Awareness Scheme office on 01202 227549.

Joining Instructions for Hamworthy Club

Joining Instructions for St Aldhelms

Joining Instructions for Cobham Sports & Social Club

Classroom Pre Read Work Book

The pre read work book will now be available at the start of the course.

Aim:

To create safer, more responsible, and considerate road users that will contribute to reducing risks.

Objectives:

By the end of the course clients should be able to:

  • Identify where you are most at risk and why.
  • Recognise the impact of Saccadic Masking on driving.
  • Give examples of what influences driver attitude.
  • Explain the consequences of your actions on the road.
  • Identify coping strategies for reducing driver workload.
  • Recognise absolute personal responsibility for Road Safety.

All information provided on the course is evidenced and sourced.

The course will be delivered with confidence by two Tutors.

Participants will have the opportunity to express themselves during whole group debates and will be Covid compliant; no group tasks or any other methodology that breaches Covid secure measures will be introduced into the presentation.

Methodology will be mostly based on question and answer sessions and facilitation of debate by the tutor supported by the PowerPoint presentation and showing of films.

Duration: 3 hours with a 15 minute break approximately half way through the session.

Course times: 0830 – 1130 & 1300 – 1600.

The Motorcycle Awareness Programme (MAP) is a 3 hour classroom course, delivered by highly qualified and experienced Road Safety professionals. Participants on the course are people who have been detected committing a road traffic offence on Dorset’s roads while riding a motorcycle and have been offered the education course as an alternative to a fixed penalty.

The MAP course explores different types of rider and motives to ride and what influences the way people ride. The programme provides coping strategies and action planning techniques to assist individuals reduce their risk on the road.

The programme also covers barriers to riding safely e.g. stress and fatigue, and contains material to help participants deal with these. It also provides an opportunity for riders to refresh their observation and hazard perception techniques, take personal responsibility and set goals.

Before taking part in the classroom you must complete all sections and exercises in a pre-course workbook, in preparation, which takes about an hour. The Workbook will take you through some background learning for the modules that you will cover during the webinar and gives some information about the many human factors that affect your riding abilities.

The MAP is also open to any riders keen to reduce their risk on the road. If you’d like to come along and benefit from the expert tuition and advice, email driverawareness@dorset.pnn.police.uk or call the DAS admin office on 01202 227549, to find out more and book your place.

Each course is run by two tutors and is a mixture of group discussion and coping strategies that will enable participants to explore what influences their decision making when using the road.

The Safer Better Driving course is aimed at those drivers who have been involved in a collision without serious consequences, where their driving has amounted to a lapse of concentration or an error of judgement.

The course duration is 7 hours classroom based interactive course.

Aim of the course


To provide an understanding of the human factors in driving, to reduce the number of crashes,
severity of injuries and number of fatalities amongst road users.
By the end of the course you should be able to:

1. Understand how you use your eyes when you drive
2. Understand how you process information whilst driving
3. Understand how emotions and motivations affect your driving abilities and risk
4. Understand how biases in the way you think can affect your abilities and risk
5. Describe hazard perception abilities
6. Give examples of strategies, techniques and goals for safer driving

You will receive a link containing a Workbook with your course invite which must be completed prior to the course and is integral to the disposal and an essential part of the process.

‘I wanted to write to thank you for a really good course. It was well run and I, and the others present were all engaged. I certainly learnt some new things and I think the others did too. I have taken a look at the materials that were put out after the course. They, and the pre-course materials were all very good’.

Quotes from people who have participated in a DAS Webinar;

‘The course was well presented by staff and was both informative and useful. It will contribute to making me a safer’.

Quotes from people who have participated in a DAS Webinar;

‘As with most people (I guess), I wasn't looking forward to doing the course and saw it as a necessary evil because I'd got caught doing something wrong, but I'm actually really pleased I was offered the opportunity to do it. It's made me think and reflect on my own behaviour and driving; I learnt a lot and will definitely be more aware going forward. I'd definitely recommend it to people as an additional option when learning to drive or a quick refresher course’.

Quotes from people who have participated in a DAS Webinar;

If you are eligible to take part in the Driver Awareness Scheme then you will be contacted by the administration team.

If you have received a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP), you should respond in accordance with the notice guidelines. Upon receipt of the NIP, a decision is made for Dorset Police by the Driver Awareness Scheme office as to whether a course can be offered to the named driver. This decision is final and mitigation cannot be considered.

Each course is run by two tutors and is a mixture of group discussion and coping strategies that will enable participants to explore what influences their decision making when using the road.

It does not involve a written test, driving test or role play. However, the course aims to be interactive between participants and tutors. To successfully complete the course you will be expected to participate fully. The course usually lasts three hours. There is a break in the session.

Lunch is not included, however there is a break in the session for tea / coffee / cold drinks.

Childcare is not available.

No. The Driver Awareness course is offered as an alternative to the Conditional Offer. Provided all conditions are met, the penalty points will not be applied.

We will endeavour to assist. Please indicate clearly on the form that you receive what your needs are.

A Red Light Offence is when a vehicle passes through a traffic light after the red light is lit. The following table lists the offence and options:

Seconds Into Red

Process

1 to 1.9 seconds

DAS

2 to 2.9 seconds

Fixed Penalty Notice

Above 3 seconds

Court Hearing


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