Safe and Considerate Driving (SCD)

The Safe and Considerate Driving Course is in 2 parts.

The first is a 3 hour theory course (with a short break) to be aware and understand the:

• causes and consequences of risky and inconsiderate driving
• importance of concentration, observation, anticipation and allowing adequate space and time
• implications as to why their own driving may be unsafe or inconsiderate.

Attendees receive practical and personalised on road coaching and are encouraged to create an action plan to address personal issues.

The majority of our courses will continue to be delivered online using the digital platform Zoom, but we are now also able to offer classroom courses. You can find any available spaces for your course by booking online and selecting physical course.

Please note the course spaces are still limited and will be solely based on client demand. If you wish to book a space please register via the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme website. If there are no spaces showing or you are unable to book in this way, email KDE@kent.gov.uk or call us on 03000 41 15 54 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm) and provide:

• your full name
• contact number
• course type (NSAC, NMAC, WDU, SCD)
• the date you MUST complete your course by.

We will contact you directly to discuss if we are able to book you onto a course. We are currently delivering courses from either Maidstone or Ashford areas but are looking to open further venues in the next 3 to 6 months.

Course trainers

The course trainers have professional driver training backgrounds and follow national guidelines. The police do not participate in the course.

Course restrictions

You can attend only one Safe and Considerate Driving course in 3 years. Any further offending will be dealt with by prosecution.

You can take the course in other areas in the UK, just search the police DORS website to attend a course outside of Kent.

If you have a provisional licence

If you are a provisional licence holder, you must make us aware at the time of booking so that special arrangements can be made.

If you have a non-European driving licence

You must bring and produce your licence and any other appropriate documents showing proof of entry into the UK. You show your ID by simply holding it up to the camera when the trainer asks during the individual registration process.

Before booking your course

Before booking your course you must

• authorise NDORS to share your data with us
• agree to the terms and conditions (PDF, 152.5 KB)

For information about how we use and share your personal information for the purpose of booking a driver education course, read our privacy statement.

Before attending the Safe and Considerate Driving course you must read the medical fitness advice from GOV.UK. Make sure the DVLA are kept up to date.

Cost of the course

The total cost of the course is £194 and is non refundable.

When booking make sure that you have the means to pay. You may book online and pay by debit or credit card.

Book or change your course

To book your course in Kent, you will need to register on the NDORS website and choose Kent County Council as your course provider.

Once registered, you will be taken through the rest of the booking process. To do this you will need your:

• offer letter from the police – which includes the reference number and PIN
• driver's licence number
• credit or debit card to pay for your course.

Register with NDORS

Change your booking

If you'd like to change an existing course booking, you must have your:

• driver's licence number
• booking reference number starting KDE
• credit/ debit card where payment is required.

If you do not know your licence number, you can check it through GOV.UK's licence detail viewing service.

14 or more days before your course

If you require subtitles to be added to the course presentation, request this by emailing KDE@kent.gov.uk.

7 or more days before your course

If you booked online and need to change your booking, you can do so up to 7 days before the date of the original course free of charge (based on the availability of course spaces).

3 to 6 days before your course

If you need to rebook your course between 3 and 6 days prior to your course date, you will incur a lost course place fee.

2 days before your course

If we assisted you with your booking or you need to change your course up to 2 days before your course, you will need to call us on 03000 41 15 54. You will incur a charge of £145.

Only in exceptional circumstances will this fee be waived, and we must receive documentary evidence as shown in the terms and conditions (PDF, 120.7 KB) that you agreed to when booking the course.

Before attending a classroom course

Before attending the classroom course at a venue you must:

• arrive promptly to allow time to register
  (plan your route and allow plenty of time for your journey)
• bring valid photographic identification
• attend for the whole time.

Not meeting these conditions will result in your exclusion from the course.

If we can offer you a new date, you'll need to pay a rebooking fee. If not, your case will be returned to the police.

Before attending an online event using Zoom

Before attending the online course you must:

• make sure that you are able to use Zoom
  (we suggest you test it with another person first)
• review the video sent to you in your documentation
• prepare yourself for the course and resolve any technical issues in advance.

Failure to follow this process may result in not being able to attend the course on the day and may also require a rebooking fee.

Watch our getting ready for online road safety course video for further advice and guidance.

Please refer to the terms and conditions (PDF, 120.7 KB) that you agreed to when booking the course.

Attending your online course using Zoom

Before attending the course, you will be sent the meeting ID, passcode and link for the course. This email will be sent to you 48 hours in advance of your course.

You can access the Zoom meeting details no earlier than 48 hours before the start of your course time and date by logging back into your account via the DORS website where you originally registered to attend a course.

If you have not received your email please check your spam or junk folders. If you still cannot find the email you must contact us on the last working day prior to your course. You can email KDE@kent.gov.uk or call 03000 41 15 54.

When attending the online course you must:

• make sure that you are in a quiet room, where you will not be interrupted
• not be in a moving vehicle, you will not be permitted to participate if you are
• have a fully charged electronic device with an inbuilt camera and speakers or a device with a webcam and speakers.
• have a stable internet connection for the course duration. If you require any assistance to set up your course, they must leave when the course starts
• have paper and pen ready to make notes during the course
• turn on both your audio and video before you start the meeting and ensure that you have tested they both work
• be in a room on your own and not in a public area, with no background images or effects (such as blurring) used.

If you fail to log on in time, or are late back from your break this will result in no admittance to the course.

Attending your theory course

Before attending the course, you will be sent the meeting ID, passcode and link for the course. This email will be sent to you 48 hours in advance of your course.

You can access the Zoom meeting details no earlier than 48 hours before the start of your course time and date by logging back into your account via the DORS website where you originally registered to attend a course.

If you have not received your email please check your spam/ junk folders. If you still cannot find the email you must contact us on the last working day prior to your course. You can email KDE@kent.gov.uk or call 03000 41 15 54 between 9am and 3pm Monday to Friday.

When attending the online course you must:

• make sure that you are in a quiet room, where you will not be interrupted
• not be in a moving vehicle, you will not be permitted to participate if you are
• have a fully charged electronic device with an inbuilt camera and speakers or a device with a webcam and speakers.
• have a stable internet connection for the course duration. If you require any assistance to set up your course, they must leave when the course starts
• have paper and pen ready to make notes during the course.

If you fail to log on in time, or are late back from your break this will result in no admittance to the course.

On-Road /Driving element of the Safe and Considerate Driving Course (SCD)

A photocard driving licence will be necessary or a paper licence with a form of photo ID (further details and other forms of acceptable photo ID visit the UKROEd website) where the client is expected to undertake an on road/driving element to a course.

Where the NDORS Licenced Trainer has any doubts or concerns about the validity of the licence, they shall reserve the right to refuse to allow the person to continue with the course and must be referred back to the Kent Driver Education Team.

Corrective eyewear for the practical course

The below is applicable when the driving element of the course is available in 2021.

Your course includes an on-road driver training element delivered by qualified ADIs. The vehicle type (i.e. manual or automatic) will be the one you selected when you booked online or via the telephone with the Kent Driver Education Team and should be the one that you normally drive. Disqualified drivers will not be able to participate.

Please also bring with you any corrective eyewear you require to drive in order to participate. An eyesight test will be conducted before the course. You will need to be able to read a vehicle registration plate from an unobstructed distance of 20 meters. If you fail the eyesight test you will not be able to complete the course.

If you have a specially adapted vehicle to enable you to drive, you will need to contact the Kent Driver Education team on 03000 41 15 54, who may be able to arrange for you to use your own vehicle. Please note this must be agreed prior to booking your course.

Please make sure you arrive on time.

If you are late you will not be allowed to participate. This could lead to a rebooking fee if we can offer a new course date, or your case being returned to the police.

The only available location for this course is:

• Innovation Centre Medway, Maidstone Road, Chatham, Kent, ME5 9FD.

This address matches that held by Royal Mail.

Lateness

Make sure you arrive on time. If you arrive late you will not be able to join the course.

This could mean you have to rebook, or your case being returned to the police.