DriveTech wins Merseyside Police speed awareness course contract

Merseyside Police has decided to outsource ‘speed awareness’ and ‘what’s driving us’ courses to DriveTech.

The contract is for six months initially with the potential to extend for a further six months.

Prior to the pandemic Merseyside Police were operating their own courses, but with the recent upheaval created by the Covid-19 pandemic and pressures on resource, they decided to outsource delivery.

They have selected DriveTech to partner with them to get online courses delivered as soon as possible.

DriveTech who deliver classroom based and on-road courses on behalf of 10 other UK police forces, plus Transport for London (TfL), responded to the cessation of classroom courses by switching to digital delivery within seven days of the Covid-19 lockdown.

The courses are offered by police forces as part of the national scheme to provide motorists with education as a more constructive alternative to prosecution.

Des Morrison, director of police contracts at DriveTech, said: “From the moment that classroom courses had to be suspended late March, when the pandemic forced us into lockdown, we worked with real passion, drive and determination to convert delivery onto a secure Microsoft Teams digital platform.

“Since the lockdown began, we have now successfully delivered online courses to over 62,000 delegates and are delighted to extend that service on behalf of Merseyside Police.”

Morrison continued: “It is important that we offer these courses as an alternative to prosecution as they have a real and positive impact on driver behaviour. Road safety improvement is at the core of this programme.”

Kevin Scott, safer roads unit manager at Merseyside Police, said the force was “really pleased” to have a new course provider on board and was looking forward to working in partnership with DriveTech to improve road safety “across Merseyside”.