Eligibility for second speed awareness course

Hello there. I can certainly help clear this up for you.

The short answer:
Yes, you can be offered a speed awareness course if you have done one before, but only if enough time has passed since your last offence.

The three year rule:
The police follow national guidelines for this. You will only be eligible for another speed awareness course if your new speeding offence happened at least three years after the date of your previous speeding offence.

It is really important to note that this three year period is calculated from the date of the original offence to the date of the new offence. It is not calculated from the date you actually attended or completed the last course.

Other requirements for a course:
Even if three full years have passed between the two offences, you still need to meet a few other standard conditions to be offered a course.

1. Your speed must fall within the eligible bracket. Courses are designed for lower level speeding. This is generally when your speed is between 10 percent plus 2 mph, up to 10 percent plus 9 mph over the limit.
2. You must respond to the police notice truthfully, admitting that you were the driver at the time of the offence.
3. The police force handling the offence must have the discretion to offer it. Fortunately, almost all police forces in England and Wales participate in the national scheme.

Practical next steps:

1. Check your dates. Look back at your records or emails to find the exact date of your previous speeding offence. Check to see if three full years passed before this new incident occurred.

2. Reply to the police. When you receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution in the post, you must fill out the section confirming who was driving and return it within the 28 day deadline. You cannot usually ask for a course at this stage, you simply have to confirm you were the driver.

3. Wait for the offer. Once the police process your reply, they will check your eligibility on their national database. If you meet the criteria, they will send you a subsequent letter giving you the choice to book a speed awareness course instead of taking three penalty points and a fine.

I hope this helps clarify exactly where you stand. Let me know if you would like me to explain any of the paperwork you receive from the police.