BURY is spearheading a Greater Manchester campaign to give distracted motorists karma in the car.

Drivers who commit offences of driving without due care and attention and reckless driving will be considered for referral by police to a driver improvement course as an alternative to receiving a court summons.

The aim of the course is to improve the driving skills, attitudes and behaviour of any driver in an effort to reduce the likelihood of them being involved in a blameworthy accident, or committing further motoring offences related to poor driving performances.

Two course have been established - one in Stockport and the other at the Seedfield Centre in Parkinson Street, Bury.

Referred drivers will be required to pay £130 for the the course which will be held over one and half days. Failure to complete or attend the course will result in the motorist being summoned to court where they could face a maximum £2,000 fine and penalty points.

Mr Paul Birch, Bury Council's senior road safety officer, said: "Although the course has only been officially launched this week, Bury has been running the driver improvement scheme since September.

"Since then we have dealt with 200 people, both male and female and covering a wide range of ages, who have committed driving without due care and attention offences

"We have recruited an advanced driving instructor to held remedy the faults of offenders rather than simply punish them through the courts where their failings are not addressed. However, it is not a soft option and requires full participation by the drivers referred."

Motorists who cause injury accidents, are involved with incidents involving drinking alcohol or who speed will not be eligible for the referral scheme.

The Driver Improvement Scheme has received the backing of Greater Manchester Police and all 10 Greater Manchester authorities.

Similar schemes have been established in Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire and Yorkshire as well as in other parts of the country.

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