Explanatory note

This Order brings into force section 35 of the Road Safety Act 2006 together with related repeals.

Section 35 substitutes new provisions for the current sections 34A to 34C of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (“the 1988 Act”), which provide for a reduced period of disqualification for offenders who successfully complete a drink-drive rehabilitation (“DDR”) course under a court order.

Section 35 is brought into force only in so far as sections 34A to 34C of the 1988 Act have application where a person is convicted of a drink-related offence and also in two stages; namely on 21st December 2012 regarding the making of applications for approval of DDR courses, the approval of courses and the appeal against refusal of, or conditional, approval and on 24th June 2013 for all other purposes (regarding drink-related offences) including the making of orders by the court for the completion of DDR courses (article 2).

The Order also includes transitional provisions which provide for courses approved before 21st December 2012, and which remain approved until 24th June 2013, to be treated until 18th August 2013 as having been approved under the new provisions and for the application to such courses, and to course organisers, of provisions in respect of the completion of courses and requiring regard to be had to guidance (article 3).