CARELESS drivers in Winsford and Middlewich could now be sent on improvement courses rather than be prosecuted at court.

The idea behind the initiative is to to rehabilitate motorists who disregard the law rather than to punish all offenders with a fine.

Congleton and Vale Royal Division first piloted driver improvement schemes a year ago in conjunction with Cheshire Constabulary and the road safety unit of Cheshire County Council.

But it has now been decided, from the success of the scheme in Winsford and Middlewich, to to extend it throughout the remaining divisions in Cheshire.

A spokesman from Cheshire Police said: "The opportunity of going on a course will only be offered to those drivers who have committed driving without due care and attention offences, in road collisions that have not resulted in fatal or serious injuries.

"Research suggests that traffic offenders exhibit both deficiencies of basic driving skills and display inappropriate attitudes and behaviours.

"The one-and-a-half days course time is shared between classroom activities and in-car training.

"Should a driver fail to satisfactorily complete a course, normal court proceedings will be instigated. A course will not be offered to any driver who has attended a course within the previous three years."

Cheshire police have insisted that the scheme is not a 'soft option' for offending motorists because the course is self-financing and the fee to attend is £115.

Chief superintendant Alec Barclay , head of uniform operations, explained: "This is an ideal way for us to deal with motorists where it is obvious that their driving technique has been a major contributory factor in causing the accident.

"The benefit to the motorist is that they will receive expert tuition from qualified driving instructors who will highlight any areas of their driving that require improvement.

"It is hoped that this will go on to make them better drivers."

During the 12 months of the pilot scheme in Chester, Ellesmere Port and Congleton and Vale Royal, 250 drivers have taken advantage of the course.

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