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Safe and Considerate Driving (SCD)

To attend this course you must have received a letter from the police.

Drivers that attend this course significantly reduce their chances of being involved in a crash and of being caught for the same offence in the next 2 to 3 years. This course is offered as an alternative to prosecution for some road traffic incidents.

The Safe and Considerate driving course has two sessions (part 1 is theory, and part 2 is practical). Both must be completed on the same day.

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

The first part is a 3 hour theory course (with a 15 minute break). By the end of the first session, you will be aware of 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.

The second part is a practical session is 3 hours 55 minutes (with a minimum 15 minute break).

Your course includes an on-road driver training element delivered by an approved driving instructor.

The vehicle type (manual or automatic) will be the one you selected when you booked your course.

Disqualified drivers will NOT be able to participate. Please also bring with you any corrective eye wear you require to drive in order to participate

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, 8:30am to 3:30pm) and provide:

  • your full name
  • contact number
  • vehicle type that you usually drive (manual or automatic)
  • the date you MUST complete your course by
  • case worker name.

We will contact you directly to discuss if we are able to book you onto a course. These courses take place at The Innovation Centre Medway.

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. In exceptional circumstances where the theory element of the course may be held online, 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

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:

  • booking reference number starting KDE
  • credit/ debit card where payment is required
  • Police ticket reference or driving licence number.

If you do not know your licence number, you can check it through GOV.UK 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 of £145.

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 that you agreed to when booking the course.

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.

Please refer to the terms and conditions that you agreed to when booking the course.

Service and support dogs

On occasion, a service or support dog may also be present. We will try to contact all attendees before the course, however this is not always possible and dependent on if we have been informed in advance. If you would like to discuss this further, call 03000 411554 between 9am and 3pm Monday to Friday or email KDE@kent.gov.uk.

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

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.

If you have any concerns about being able to attend and complete your course, need advice if attending whilst breastfeeding or have any other mobility or health conditions that may require a reasonable adjustment, please speak to the call advisers or email KDE@kent.gov.uk and we will contact you directly to discuss the options available to you.

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, pay a rebooking fee or your case being returned to the police.