IRRESPONSIBLE drivers could be forced to dig out their 'L' plates in a bid to improve the county's skills behind the wheel.

Motorists who have committed an offence of driving without due care and attention will have the option of taking a half-day driving course in a new police scheme aimed at cutting accidents.

If they pass the course, which costs £100, no further action will be taken against them. Organised by the county council's road safety unit, the course has been piloted in Chorley and Preston and, to date, more than 300 drivers have passed it.

Now extended across the county, the scheme consists of theory sessions which tackle driving attitudes and the causes of accidents and two periods of driving with an instructor.

Inspector Peter Stas said: "Most drivers receive no formal instruction once they have passed the basic learner test. Accidents happened because of poor driving, bad habits or lack of attention. Last year these things resulted in more than 9,000 injuries on the county's roads.

"The scheme is designed to re-educate offending drivers and hopefully in the longer term, reduce accidents. The majority of people attending the course have said they are confident that their driving has improved."

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