Transport Department - Driver Improvement Scheme

Objectives

The introduction of the Driver Improvement Scheme (DIS) is to promote road safety and make drivers more law abiding through better understanding of their driving behaviour and attitude. Many developed countries have introduced Driver Improvement Schemes for some years and the effect on reducing traffic accidents and make drivers a positive change in driving attitude are conspicuous. Therefore, the Transport Department has decided to start the Scheme in September 2002 and designated a number of driving improvement schools for the provision of driving improvement course with a view to enhancing safety of drivers and other road users in Hong Kong.

Two-pronged Approach

Having regard to overseas experience, the Administration has adopted a two-pronged approach to:

(a)

empower the court to direct drivers who have committed any scheduled offence incurring 5 driving-offence points or above under the Road Traffic Ordinance (Chapter 375) to attend a driving improvement course as one of the penalty options; and

(b) allow a driver to join a driving improvement course voluntarily.

A driver will have three driving-offence points deducted from his/her total driving-offence points already incurred, subject to satisfactory completion of a driving improvement course and the conditions detailed in the answer to Question 4 below.

Q & As

Q1 : Are all drivers allowed to attend the driving improvement course?

A1 : All driving licence holders, except the following, may attend the driving improvement course -

(i)   learner driving licence holders;
(ii) temporary driving licence holders; and
(iii) those with Government vehicles driving licence only.

Q2 : What will be the evidence of attendance and completion of a driving improvement course?

A2 :
The driving improvement school will issue either an attendance certificate or a course certificate to a course participant after he has attended and completed a driving improvement course. An attendance certificate will be issued if a course participant has fully attended the course and completed all assignments required thereof. A course certificate will be issued to a course participant if he has fully attended the course and completed all assignments required thereof with satisfactory performance.

Q3 : What is meant by satisfactory performance?

A3: Satisfactory performance is defined as ¡V

(a)   having full attendance throughout the driving improvement course;
(b)   paying attention during the course;
(c)   participating actively during in-class and group discussions; and
(d)   passing all written and any practical assignments of the course.

Q4 : What are the conditions for deduction of driving-offence points other than satisfactory completion of the course?

A4 :
You will be issued with a course certificate if you have fully attended a driving improvement course and completed all assignments required thereof with satisfactory performance.   In that case, 3 driving-offence points will be deducted from the total number of points you have incurred on the date you have completed the course. Please note that no points will be deducted if, on the date of completion of course, you -

(i) have not incurred any points; or

(ii) have incurred 15 or more points; or

(iii) have been deducted points from the total number of points incurred within the past 2 years.
All other enquiries regarding the issuance of advice/summons, please address to the Driving-offence Points Office, Transport Department, 3/F., United Centre, 95 Queensway, Hong Kong. (Enquiry Tel. no.: 1823)

Q5 : How can one enroll for a driving improvement course?

A5 : You may register with any one of the designated driving improvement schools for enrollment for the driving improvement course. The address and contact details of the driving improvement schools as follows:

Addresses of driving improvement schools and enquiry hotline

District

Name of School

Address of School

Enquiry Hotline

Hong Kong Island
The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Union Occupational Retraining Centre Ltd. 5/F, Eastern Commercial Building, 397 Hennessy Road, Wanchai.
2893 3112

Kowloon West
The Hong Kong School of Motoring Ltd. Room 720, Hollywood Plaza, 610 Nathan Road, Mongkok
2384 8301

Q6 : What are the course duration and course fee?

A6 :
A driving improvement course is mainly divided into two sessions with total duration of not less than 7 hours. The maximum fee to be charged by the proprietor of a driving improvement school for a driving improvement course shall be HK$1,000; and the maximum fee for the issue of an attendance certificate or a course certificate shall be HK$30. The exact fee may however vary among schools. Interest persons could contact the Schools for the details.

Q7 : Do I need to pay full course fee at the time of registration and complete the whole course in one day?

A7 :
All Driving Improvement Schools are only allowed to collect up to 10% of the total course fee as a deposit at the time of registration. The remaining course fee should be paid at the time you attend the course. A driving improvement course mainly comprises two sessions. Course participants may choose to complete the two sessions of the course in either one day or two different days. You will be arranged to attend the course within one month from the date of your registration. You may also request to attend the course on a date later than one month, but the date so requested must not be later than two months from the date of registration. If you do not attend the course as scheduled, your deposit paid may be forfeited by the school.

Q8: Can I switch to another school for session 2 of the course after completion of session 1 at a school?

A8 :
Yes. You may choose to discontinue attendance at a school after completing session 1 of the course and re-register with any other driving improvement school for the continuation of the course by presenting the attendance record which you have received from the previous school. The re-registration should be completed within 2 months from the date of issue of the attendance record of the previous school.

Q9 :
Is there any time frame for those ordered by the court to attend and complete a driving improvement course? Can one apply for an extension?

A9 :
Those receiving court orders should, at their own costs, attend and complete a driving improvement course within 3 months after the date on which the court makes the order. If a person is not able to comply with the order, he/she may make an application for extension in writing to the court or magistrate which made the order. If it is considered that he is not able to comply with the order with reasonable excuse, the judge or magistrate may extend the period of 3 months for such period as they considers appropriate. Please note that a person is liable on conviction to a fine of $3,000 and to imprisonment for 1 month if he fails to comply with the order without reasonable excuse.

Q10 :
A person has just committed a traffic offence which may lead to the total driving-offence points to 15 points or above. Would 3 points be deducted if he/she completes a driving improvement course prior to incurring the driving-offence points from the aforesaid traffic offence?

A10 : Yes, 3 points would be deducted if, on the day of completion, the person has not yet incurred 15 points or above.

Enquiries

Enquiries about the Driver Improvement Scheme can be directed to Citizen's Easy Link 1823 or in writing to the Driving Services Section, Transport Department, 19 Pui Ching Road, Homantin, Kowloon.

The above is a general guide. The relevant legislation is set out in the Road Traffic Ordinance.


	(a)	empower the court to direct drivers who have committed any scheduled offence incurring 5 driving-offence points or above under the Road Traffic Ordinance (Chapter 375) to attend a driving improvement course as one of the penalty options; and
	(b)	allow a driver to join a driving improvement course voluntarily.

Q6 :	What are the course duration and course fee?

A6 :	A driving improvement course is mainly divided into two sessions with total duration of not less than 7 hours. The maximum fee to be charged by the proprietor of a driving improvement school for a driving improvement course shall be HK$1,000; and the maximum fee for the issue of an attendance certificate or a course certificate shall be HK$30. The exact fee may however vary among schools. Interest persons could contact the Schools for the details.

Q7 :	Do I need to pay full course fee at the time of registration and complete the whole course in one day?

A7 :	All Driving Improvement Schools are only allowed to collect up to 10% of the total course fee as a deposit at the time of registration. The remaining course fee should be paid at the time you attend the course. A driving improvement course mainly comprises two sessions. Course participants may choose to complete the two sessions of the course in either one day or two different days. You will be arranged to attend the course within one month from the date of your registration. You may also request to attend the course on a date later than one month, but the date so requested must not be later than two months from the date of registration. If you do not attend the course as scheduled, your deposit paid may be forfeited by the school.

Q8:	Can I switch to another school for session 2 of the course after completion of session 1 at a school?

A8 :	Yes. You may choose to discontinue attendance at a school after completing session 1 of the course and re-register with any other driving improvement school for the continuation of the course by presenting the attendance record which you have received from the previous school. The re-registration should be completed within 2 months from the date of issue of the attendance record of the previous school.

Q9 :	Is there any time frame for those ordered by the court to attend and complete a driving improvement course? Can one apply for an extension?

A9 :	Those receiving court orders should, at their own costs, attend and complete a driving improvement course within 3 months after the date on which the court makes the order. If a person is not able to comply with the order, he/she may make an application for extension in writing to the court or magistrate which made the order. If it is considered that he is not able to comply with the order with reasonable excuse, the judge or magistrate may extend the period of 3 months for such period as they considers appropriate. Please note that a person is liable on conviction to a fine of $3,000 and to imprisonment for 1 month if he fails to comply with the order without reasonable excuse.

Q10 :	A person has just committed a traffic offence which may lead to the total driving-offence points to 15 points or above. Would 3 points be deducted if he/she completes a driving improvement course prior to incurring the driving-offence points from the aforesaid traffic offence?

A10 :	Yes, 3 points would be deducted if, on the day of completion, the person has not yet incurred 15 points or above.