The traffic offender program (TOP) or the Traffic Offender Intervention Program (TOIP) is a road safety course. It is designed to provide drivers with the information and skills necessary to develop positive attitudes to driving and to change driving behaviour by developing safer driving behaviours.
The content of these programs are regulated by the Criminal Procedure Regulation 2017 (NSW). You must ensure that whichever program you choose to enroll in; that they are a registered provider, otherwise the court may disregard your attendance.
Eligibility for TOP / TOIP?
Most program providers will allow anyone to attend, and a number of participants upon completion have been known to send their kids to the program afterwards. Nonetheless, the court typically refers people to the program that are:
- A traffic offender
- Have not been sentenced for their traffic offence
- Have agreed to participate in the program.
What type of offences are suitable for TOP?
If your matter involves any driving offence you should consider undertaking the TOP program. The more common traffic offences that people engage with are:
Topics covered
The topics between each Traffic offender program vary slightly but generally they are:
-
The topics between each Traffic offender program vary slightly but generally they are: - The Law, the impact of traffic offences and crashes
- Speeding
- Drink Driving
- Drug Driving
- Fatigue
- Mobile Phone Use & Distraction
- Vulnerable Road Users
- Vehicle Maintenance & Vehicle Restrictions
What does the courts say about Traffic Offender Programs?
The courts have previously stated the importance of the Traffic offender programs in the guideline judgement on drink driving. Further to this there are several other factors that the court considers important:
- That you are taking the matter seriously therefore, potentially less likely to reoffend
- Enables you to improve your driving skills and knowledge, often teaching you things that you did not know for instance the relationship between speed and stopping distance
- Helps you reduce the chance of reoffending
- Taking positive steps to address your poor driving behaviour.
Traffic Offender Program Operators
Catron Simmons Lawyers lectures with the Aspire Program on a voluntary basis and can provide you with assistance in finding a program, information as to what the program contains and the relevance for your personal situation.