CARELESS Bolton motorists could be ordered to have more driving lessons instead of getting penalty points on their licence.

A scheme is set to be brought in this year across Greater Manchester which would be an alternative to penalties and fines.

The idea is to improve the standard of driving across the county and reduce accidents.

A report on the driver improvement scheme is due to go before Bolton's highways sub committee later today.

But it has already been given the backing in principle of Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable David Wilmot and the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities.

More than 17,000 people were injured in road accidents across the county in 1997. Drivers would be "sent back to school" for less serious driving offences as an alternative to prosecution.

Success

They could include careless driving or driving without reasonable consideration of other road users.

More serious offences would still be dealt with by prosecution.

The scheme was piloted in Devon in 1991 and more than 20 other authorities have already brought it in and hailed it a success.

Drivers would have to pay between £90 and £125 for the 1 day course.

They would be instructed in items such as accident avoidance, hazard perception, driver behaviour and personal responsibility.

There would also be a session of driver improvement instruction in a vehicle.

There would be no test at the end of the course, but drivers would be expected to demonstrate:

AN understanding of the major causes of road accidents.

SHOW an awareness of of the effects of stress and driver fatigue on driver performance.

UNDERSTAND the concept of avoidability in road accidents.

DEMONSTRATE how driver attitude and behaviour affect safe driving performance.

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