A growing number of police authorities have put out to tender for a road driving training programme for drivers caught offending.

It will mean that more company car drivers will have the option of undergoing a training workshop instead of getting points on their licence for offences such as speeding.

According to DriveTech, which runs courses for 13 police authorities, drivers do not have to inform their insurance company if they have attended the workshop.

It could save fleets thousands of pounds by not increasing their insurance premiums, as well as reducing accident rates.

Steve Johnson, DriveTech director of communications, said: “It makes a huge difference to a company’s profitability.”

The company is one of three to provide the courses for police authorities as part of a nationally agreed framework.

It is engaged in around 20 other tender pitches.

Of the 250,000 people that have attended a DriveTech course since the first programme was launched by Thames Valley police in 2005, 40% are at-work drivers.

The vast majority – around 90% - were caught speeding.

“Women are nine times less likely to reoffend after attending the course; men are around seven times less likely to reoffend,” Johnson said.

Drivers who are caught a second time do not have the option to attend another course if the offence was committed within three years.

Thames Valley police has recently introduced a high speed programme for drivers caught at well above the speed limit.

It consists of a full day course divided between classroom learning and on-road training.

The force has also added a young drivers’ scheme for 17-24-year-olds, a category that makes up 17% of the driving population but accounts for almost one-third of death/serious injuries.

Johnson believes other police forces will look to implement both programmes.