Coronavirus Kent: Woman hits out at decision not to cancel driving awareness courses despite outbreak
16:17, 18 March 2020
updated: 16:23, 18 March 2020
A woman has slammed a decision to continue running driver awareness courses despite national coronavirus fears.
Carol Brightwell, of The Boulevard in Westgate-on-Sea, says it is "ignorant" for sessions to still go ahead despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson's warning not to gather socially at pubs, clubs and theatres.
But the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS) has opted to keep courses running as they are legislative.
Kent County Council, which puts on the gatherings in the area, has said it has been advised by the governing body that courses "do not fall in the category of non-essential".
Ms Brightwell says she is due to attend a meeting in Aylesford on Friday morning, but thinks it should be postponed due to the virus outbreak so people are not put at risk.
"This is the closest one I could find as they get quite booked up - mine was booked back on January 16," the 56-year-old said.
"My concerns regarding attending are quite obvious. All of the information and advice that the public have been given seems no longer relevant to KCC or NDORS.
"I do think that these courses should be postponed, as everything else seems to be at the moment.
"I run a business at Rochester Airport and cannot understand why I should put myself at risk, and therefore my employees, when I return to work."
A spokesman for KCC said: "All courses are still currently running and will continue to do so until any further guidance is received from either NDORS or Public Health England.
"If you are unable to attend a course please email KDE@kent.gov.uk and we will contact you to discuss your options. Please provide a contact number and the name of a third party if you are unable to speak to us yourself.
"Running the courses or not running them is not a decision that KCC can make."
The NDORS website advises that people will be contacted by the course provider if their session is cancelled, but those wanting to rearrange can do so online.
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