Red Light Camera Schemes

What is it?
A scheme that provides education for drivers who fail to stop at a red traffic light is currently operated in the Merseyside area. Driving Services UK Ltd is the service provider of the Red Light Camera Course on behalf of the Merseyside Police Authority.

The aim of the Red Light Camera Course is to educate drivers by raising awareness and encouraging changes in behaviour and attitude, which in turn will help to reduce death and serious injury on our roads. It is similar to the NDIS courses that are currently taking place across the UK. Only people who take uncalculated risks by jumping red lights have anything to fear from the cameras. The objective is to make risk-taking as anti social as drink driving.

A Red Light camera takes an image of the vehicles that pass through traffic lights whilst they are on red. They operate in a similar way to fixed site speed cameras.

Once the driver is identified the Central Ticket Office sends a Conditional offer of a fixed penalty. A notice of intended prosecution is then sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle. This identifies that the vehicle was recorded on film committing the red light offence. The driver then has the choice of paying a fixed fine and accepting 3 penalty points, or attending a Red Light Camera Course.  A fine and the possibility of prosecution should provide the necessary incentive for the driver to want to attend such a course.

The Red Light Camera Course is aimed at promoting an understanding of the consequences of jumping a red light.The objective of the Red Light Camera Course is to educate and explore the reasons why drivers jump red lights and to try to prevent future re-occurrence. The course also aims to permanently change the client's attitude and driving behaviour towards risk-taking. 

Should they re-offend within three years of attending the course they will not be offered a repeat opportunity.

Course Objectives

1. What makes us good (and bad!) drivers
2. Understand why drivers take risks
3. Understand how driver attitude and behaviour affects safe driving performance
4. Have an appreciation of hazard recognition
5. Have an awareness of the role stress and fatigue play in driver performance

The Red Light Camera Course is a classroom based theory session of 3½ hours duration with Approved Driving Instructors as presenters. During the theory session clients will be encouraged to discuss what caused them to commit an offence at the red light, the consequences of doing so, and how they plan to avoid re-offending. If the course is completed successfully the client's file will be referred back to the Police for no further action.

The contractual relationship between service provider, police and client is explained, emphasising the independent status of the service provider from the police and court authorities.  Attendees are asked to consider their motives for choosing the course in preference to a court appearance, and what they would like to gain from attending the course.

Attendees are encouraged to discuss, dispute or debate any beliefs they hold regarding their traffic offence. These beliefs are generally challenged throughout the course, which is facilitated by the course Team Leader and instructor.

The course facilitators will discuss evidence of studies that have suggested that the majority of traffic offences are deliberate acts that violate road traffic law. For example, human error and lapses in concentration. This is explored and the consequences of jumping a red light discussed.

To view the Agenda for the Red Light Camera Course - click here