New drink drive information toolkit launched for legal professionals by IAM RoadSmart Driver Retraining Academy

IAM RoadSmart Driver Retraining Academy (DRA) has created a new toolkit of advice and information for solicitors and members of the legal profession to provide them all the background they need when advising their clients ahead of a drink drive hearing.

The organisation, part of UK road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, has 120 course locations across England and is the biggest provider of drink drive rehabilitation courses in Wales. Taking IAM DRA’s Drink Drive Rehabilitation Course (DDRC) means a candidate can apply for a reduction in the length of their driving ban of up to 25%, cutting a 24 month ban by six months.

Since 2013 IAM RoadSmart Driver Retraining Academy has helped over 6,000 drivers to shorten their bans through education and support programmes. 

In spite of decades of high-profile government-backed anti drink drive campaigns, drink driving is still a significant problem in the UK. There were 35,000 drink drive offences recorded in the nine months up to August 2015.

Wales individually saw an increase of 6% from the previous year with Dyfed-Powys showing the biggest increase, with a reported 68.2% rise in offences.

Sarah Sillars, IAM RoadSmart chief executive officer, said: “In the event that someone is charged with drink driving, we believe targeted retraining courses should always be the first choice as a response. Drink driving is a serious offence with dangerous consequences but many people don’t understand the full risk. These courses should deal with the individual’s relationship with alcohol – not just the offence itself.  

“The key to what IAM RoadSmart offers is the word ‘rehabilitation’ – it’s about setting an individual back on the right course to changing their life for the better, on and off the road.

“Most people who are facing a conviction are terrified of the outcome and a solicitor is often their only point of contact ahead of a hearing. We want to work with all legal professionals to support them in providing the very best support to their clients, at this very stressful time.”

Anyone interested in receiving the toolkit can order a hard or electronic copy on the IAM RoadSmart DRA website.

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IAM RoadSmart has a mission to make better drivers and riders in order to improve road safety, inspire confidence and make driving and riding enjoyable. It does this through a range of courses for all road users, from online assessments through to the advanced driving and riding tests. IAM RoadSmart is the trading name of all businesses operated by the UK’s largest road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and was formed in April 2016 combining the IAM, IAM Drive & Survive, PDS and IAM Driver Retraining Academy. The organisation has 92,000 members and campaigns on road safety on their behalf. At any one time there are over 7,000 drivers and riders actively engaged with IAM RoadSmart’s courses, from members of the public to company drivers, while our Driver Retraining Academy has helped 2,500 drivers to shorten their bans through education and support programmes.

To find out more about IAM RoadSmart products and services visit the new website www.iamroadsmart.com

To find out the name of your own local IAM RoadSmart group please visit: https://wwwiamroadsmart.com/local-groups

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