Introduction

The Driving Improvement Course was introduced in September 2022. The objective is to instil a stronger sense of road safety and good driving behavior in drivers.

Mandatory Attendance of the Driving Improvement Course

Pursuant to the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374) and the Road Traffic (Driving-offence Points) Ordinance (Cap. 375), persons belonging to the following categories shall be required to attend and complete the driving improvement course (hereinafter referred to as "the Course") at their own cost on a mandatory basis with a view to further enhancing road safety with effect from 9 February 2009:

(a) persons convicted of any one of the following serious traffic offences under the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374):

     - causing death by dangerous driving (section 36)
     - causing grievous bodily harm by dangerous driving (section 36A)
     - dangerous driving (section 37)
     - drink driving offences (sections 39, 39A, 39B and 39C)
     - drug driving offences (sections 39J, 39K, 39L, 39O(1) and 39S)
     - driving in excess of speed limit by more than 45 km/h (section 41); or
     - motor racing and speed trials (section 55)

Generally, traffic offenders will be required to attend the Course within the specified period ordered by the Courts.

(b) drivers who have incurred 10 or more Driving-offence Points ("DOPs") in respect of offences that are committed within a 2-year period. They will be required to attend the Course once for every 10 DOPs incurred within 3 months from the date of the Obligatory Attendance of Driving Improvement Course Notice (hereinafter referred to as "the Notice") issued by the Commissioner for Transport.

Q & As

Q1 : I have incurred 10 DOPs and received the Notice issued by the Commissioner for Transport. After attending and completing the Course at my own cost, will 3 points be deducted from the total number of DOPs incurred by me?
A1 : Eligible participants who have attended the whole Course with satisfactory performance (i.e. attended all class(es) of the Course on time, paid attention, participated actively in class and group discussions and activities, and passed the course-end written assessment) will have 3 DOPs deducted from the total number of points incurred. However, no DOP can be deducted if on the date the person completes a driving improvement course in relation to which he/she is issued with a course certificate –

(a) has not incurred any DOPs; or
(b) has already incurred 15 or more DOPs; or
(c) the Commissioner for Transport has within the past 2 years deducted DOPs for completion of a driving improvement course in relation to which he/she is issued with a course certificate from the total number of DOPs incurred by the person.
   
Q2 : What are the consequences if I do not comply with the Notice issued by the Commissioner for Transport?
A2 : Under Sections 8AA (5) and (7) of the Road Traffic (Driving-offence Points) Ordinance (Cap. 375), non-compliance with the Notice to attend the Course is an offence. You may be liable to a maximum fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for a maximum period of two months. After serving the imprisonment and paying the fine, you shall still attend the Course. Under Regulation 6 of the Road Traffic (Driving Licences) Regulations (Chapter 374B), the Commissioner for Transport shall not issue, re-issue or renew your driving licence until you have completed the Course as required.
   
Q3 : What should I do if I am unable to attend the Course within the specified period Note 1 in accordance with the Notice issued by the Commissioner for Transport?
A3: You should submit a written application to the Commissioner for Transport within the specified period, stating genuine reasons Note 2 for extension. Your application should be addressed to the Driving-offence Points Office, Transport Department (30/F, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong). Please note that Hongkong Post will charge unpaid fee and other relevant fee for underpaid mail items. This Department does not accept underpaid mail items, which will be returned to the senders or disposed of by Hongkong Post. For proper delivery of your mail items to this Department and to avoid unnecessary delay or unsuccessful delivery, please ensure your mail items bear sufficient postage with returned address before posting. [Please refer to details about postage]

Note 1: Within 3 months from the issue date of the Notice
Note 2: All applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants should submit their applications before the end of the specified period so that the Commissioner for Transport can proceed with sufficient time.
Q4 : If the Courts order me to be disqualified from holding a driving licence as well as to attend and complete the Course, what is the consequence of not attending the Course after the end of the disqualification period?
A4 : You will remain to be disqualified from driving until you have attended and completed the Course. You may also be liable to a maximum fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for a maximum period of two months.
   
Q5 : What are the course duration and course fee?
A5 : A driving improvement course is divided into two sessions with total duration of eight 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. For details of the Designated Driving Improvement Schools, please refer to Q6. 
   
Q6 : Where can I enroll in the Course?
A6 : Please refer to details about Designated Driving Improvement Schools.
   
Q7 : The Courts order me to be disqualified from holding a driving licence as well as to attend and complete the Course. Upon the expiry of disqualification, how can I get back my driving licence from the Transport Department after attending and completing the Course?
A7 : When you have completed the Course, the Schools need to compile your course-end assessment result and submit it together with your attendance record to the Transport Department for further actions. As such, if you are disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence and required to attend the Course as ordered by the Courts, upon the expiry of disqualification, you should allow at least 5 working days upon the issuance of the course certificate before coming to the Driving-offence Points Office to get back your driving licence. If your driving licence has already expired after the disqualification period, or you are required to attend and complete the Course due to accumulation of 10 or more DOPs within a 2-year period, you should allow at least 5 working days upon the issuance of the course certificate before making an application to the Licensing Office of the Transport Department for issue, re-issue or renewal of your driving licence.
   
Q8 : Is it necessary to bring along the Course certificate to the Driving-offence Points Office or the Licensing Office for getting back my driving licence or applying for another one?
A8 : For easier verification by this Department, you are recommended to bring along the course certificate.

Further enquiries

Enquiries can be directed to the Transport Department hotline at 2804 2600.

The guide above is a general guide. The relevant regulations are set out in Sections 36, 36A, 37, 39, 39A, 39B, 39C, 39J, 39K, 39L, 39O(1), 39S, 41, 55, 72A, 102B of the Road Traffic Ordinance (Chapter 374), Regulation 6 of the Road Traffic (Driving Licences) Regulations (Chapter 374B) and Sections 8A and 8AA of the Road Traffic (Driving-offence Points) Ordinance (Chapter 375).