The 1988 North Report, submitted to parliament by academic lawyer, Sir Peter North, comprised a set of proposals for traffic-law reform. 

Within this report was a proposal for the systematic re-education of drivers who commit minor traffic offences. Sir North suggested education would have a more positive effect on the behaviour of drivers than punitive measures alone.

Now, more than 30 years after the initial proposal, the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS) is a well-established tool in traffic law enforcement. 

Here we explain what NDORS courses are available and what offences they target.

What is the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme?

NDORS is provided by UK Road Offender Education (UKROEd), the trading arm of the Road Safety Trust. The Trust, which describes itself as “an independent grant-giving Trust working hard to reduce the numbers of people killed or injured on our roads”, gives financial support to road-safety initiatives in the UK. 

NDORS fees cover the costs of providing the courses, and the surplus is fed into the Trust’s grant fund.

The sole purpose of the NDORS courses – all rigidly structured in terms of content and delivery – is to make UK roads safer through the education of road users. 

How much does an NDORS course cost and how long do they take?

The duration and cost of your course will vary depending on which one you’re taking. Note that prices can vary depending on location and are based on the average at the time of publication.

COURSE	OFFENCE	DURATION	FEE
National Motorway Awareness Course (NMAC) (classroom or online)	Exceeding the speed limit on a motorway and other infringements on a motorway	3 hours	£78.00 – £92.00
National Rider Risk Assessment Course (NRRAC) (classroom or online)	Riders who have been brought to the attention of police through their riding behaviour	3 hours	£69.80 – £132.00
National Speed Awareness Course (NSAC) (classroom or online)	Speeding offences	2 hours 45 minutes	£80.00 – £100.00
Safe and Considerate Cycling Course (SCCC) (online)	Cycling offences	30 minutes	£38.40
Safe and Considerate Driving (SCD) (classroom/road)	Carelessness leading to an accident	6 hours 55 minutes	£120.00 – £200.00
What’s Driving Us? (WDU) (classroom or online)	Deliberate misdemeanour	3 hours	£73.00 – £95.00
Your Belt Your Life (YBYL) (online)	Failure to use a seat belt or appropriate child seat	30 minutes	£54.00

What do the courses cover?

The courses cover a range of different subjects depending on the offence.

National Motorway Awareness Course

A National Motorway Awareness Course is designed for motorists who have been detected exceeding the variable speed limits that are displayed overhead on the motorway. It is also for motorists who have passed through a mandatory red X lane closure signal. 

The course itself is only offered for speed offences against variable limits and not where the national speed limit applies. There is a mix of information, discussion and reflection on the things that affect your driving. It is designed to be interesting and useful so that you leave with practical tips to help you drive safely on motorways. 

National Rider Risk Assessment Course

The National Rider Risk Assessment Course is for riders who have been brought to the attention of police through their riding behaviour. It is designed to clarify the sources of risk to riders and identifies how you can reduce your risk through behavioural changes. 

National Speed Awareness Course 

One of the most common NDORS courses is the National Speed Awareness Course. Each year, thousands of drivers take part to understand how they can be a safer road user and stop speeding. 

It is designed to teach attendees how speeding can affect yourself and others’ safety on the roads, how to recognise and resist the urge to speed and how to avoid distractions. 

Safe and Considerate Cycling Course

The Safe and Considerate Cycling Course is an online education course for people who are stopped by the police for offences such as cycling through a red light, cycling without lights, or for cycling on pavements that are not cycle paths. 

This course explores the key rules and regulations for cyclists and how those laws keep cyclists safe. 

Safe and Considerate Driving Course

The Safe and Considerate Driving Course is recommended for those that have been deemed to be driving recklessly when involved in a collision. The key goals are for the driver to recognise your faults; the importance of concentration, observation and anticipation; and to understand why you were being unsafe.   

What’s Driving Us?

The What’s Driving Us course is aimed to create safer communities by helping people drive safely and more considerately. The course helps people recognise road signs and markings, understand traffic rules and understand the distractions and pressures you face on the road and how to manage them.

Your Belt Your Life 

Your Belt Your Life is an online course for those who have been stopped by police for not wearing a seat belt or for not using an appropriate seat belt or car seat for your child. You will learn of the dangers of failing to follow the correct safety procedures. 

Those taking the course will take part in an exam to check you have learnt from your mistakes and will receive a personalised plan to enforce the habit of wearing a seat belt.

How to book an NDORS course

If you’ve committed an offence and been caught by the police, they may offer you an NDORS course instead of points on your licence. 

You’ll receive a letter from UKROEd, which will direct you to the NDORS offer portal, and you’ll be taken through the process of logging in (using a given reference number and PIN or driver number), selecting a venue and date and making full payment. 

Your NDORS course booking is not confirmed until payment has been received. 

You can book your course at any NDORS course location anywhere in the UK as long as it’s available at that particular venue. You don’t have to do the course in the area where the offence was committed.

What do I need to take to an NDORS course?

When you attend an NDORS driving course, the instructors will need to see your driving licence. If you have a photocard licence, this is the only documentation you need. 

If, however, you have an old-style paper licence, you must also take some form of photo ID, such as a passport, citizen card or student ID. 

The registration process includes an eyesight test, so if you need glasses or contact lenses for driving, you must have these with you, especially if your licence includes the code 01, which refers to corrective lenses.

Can I fail the course?

Yes, you can fail the course if you:

• Don’t attend
• Arrive late
• Leave early
• Don’t participate
• Are asked by an instructor to leave (for example, if you behave in an antisocial manner)

Will an NDORS have an impact on my insurance?

Taking an NDORS course should not have an impact on the price of your insurance. 

If you’re asked directly whether or not you’ve attended an NDORS course, you must tell your insurer the truth. They do not affect your insurance in the same way a fixed penalty does, but your policy can become invalidated if you are untruthful about whether you’ve been on a course.

Records of NDORS courses are kept by the police, and not the DVLA, so an insurer can’t independently obtain the information.

Convicted driving insurance you can trust

At Adrian Flux, we specialise in finding affordable insurance for those drivers who have been convicted of a driving offence, because we know your past doesn’t necessarily reflect your future.

No matter the offence, we’re experienced in offering tailored insurance cover for convicted drivers. For our best rates, call 0800 369 8590 or book a callback at a time that suits you.