More than one million drivers have undertook speeding awareness courses since they were introduced, it has been revealed.

The courses mean the driver doesn't have to pay a fine and take penalty points - as long as they meet certain criteria.

The course is offered to motorists who have not exceeded the speed limit by more than nine miles per hour plus ten per cent of the given zone they were travelling in.

The cost of completing a speed awareness course varies by region but is typically priced between £90 and £100.

The four-hour long course is designed to educate motorists about the life-threatening risks they pose to themselves and other road users when breaking the speed limit.

But what else does undertaking a speed awareness course involve?

LeaseCare.uk has the following information on what drivers can expect:

There's no police involved

Although guilty drivers are caught by the police or one of their cameras no officers are present on the day of the course. They are run by advanced driver trainers who are there to simply prevent guilty motorists from re-offending.

However, this does not mean strict rules are not in place as a driver who turns up ten minutes late will be asked to leave and will be referred back to the police. Similarly, anyone caught on a mobile phone during the course will also be told to leave.

You don't have to pass (or fail) a test

Attendants are not required to pass a test in order to complete the course and avoid the points on their licence. As long as they turn up on time, pay attention and engage with the professional instructors they shall complete the course.

You'll learn the true dangers of speeding

It seems obvious to most but the impact of speeding, no matter how much a driver is over the limit can have a significant impact on braking distances and is one of the more sobering lessons learned.

A car driving at 35mph will still be travelling at 18mph at the point it would have stopped if at 30mph which can be the difference between hitting a pedestrian and causing a potentially fatal injury or not.

There'll be advice on how to drive economically

Not something drivers may expect to learn on the course but being taught how to drive economically and the benefits of doing so are covered in depth.

Regularly checking tyre pressures, reducing weight in a vehicle or driving at 56mph when appropriate are just some of the pieces of advice offered to drivers.

Your insurance won't be affected

While you don’t get a conviction it’s still advisable to check your insurance terms and conditions which will minimise the risk of your insurance being invalid due to not disclosing or withholding this information.

There will be a test, but it won't be scored

Towards the end of the course drivers will be tested on what they have learnt throughout the day in a group quiz. The scores are not recorded nor do they affect whether a driver completes the course but doing well can lead to a sense of overall satisfaction.