Speeding motorists in Keighley could avoid fines and licence points if they agree to take a training course.

Bradford Council has teamed up with West Yorkshire Police and Kirklees Council to launch a new scheme which gives drivers caught speeding the option of a £95 training course, which offers advice for resisting speeding in the future, instead of the usual fixed penalty ticket of a fine and points.

The interactive one-day course assesses a motorist's driving and explains the many factors that can badly affect their ability behind the wheel. Pupils will take part in a practical session with specially trained and approved driving instructors, who will provide advice and help on how to get the best out of driving without putting others at risk.

Haworth man Frank Parkin, secretary of Skipton and Craven Advanced Motorists Group, was fully supportive of the scheme. He said: "They have been operating this scheme in Lancashire for quite a while now and apparently it works. On monitoring whether people re-offend, it is being found that they don't.

"It's good because it costs people the same amount of money but at least it keeps the three points off their licence."

Keighley's deputy mayor, Cllr Graham Mitchell, said: "Keighley Town Council and Keighley police pioneered Community Speed Watch in the north of England and I am delighted to see Keighley being offered the opportunity to be involved in this latest speed awareness initiative. Anything that raises public awareness of the dangers of speeding on Keighley's roads and generates a culture of change in favour of safer driving is to be applauded."

Bradford Council will provide road injury statistics and information about the places where local people are concerned about speeding traffic, and the police will enforce the law and offer the option.

Kirklees Council's Highway Safety Team will hold the driver training courses at its Driver Training Centre, in Huddersfield.

The course will only be available to those stopped for travelling within a narrow band above the posted speed limit. Those who clearly breach speed limits to an unacceptable level or display a total disregard for road safety will not be eligible for the scheme.

Sgt Roger Birkett, Keighley police's traffic manager, said: "We see this scheme as a combination of enforcement and education."