A drink drive programme based in Harrow is celebrating completing its 1,000th course.

Steer Clear, run by the London Probation Trust and based in Rosslyn Crescent, was launched in 1998.

It has now re-educated 13,000 drink drivers and is a key sentencing tool for judges to punish people found guilty of driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Steer Clear is a 16-hour programme which includes practical and video based demonstrations of how alcohol affects judgement, reaction times and concentration.

The course also highlights the tragic consequences that drink driving can have.

Steer Clear manager Sharon Kirk said: “Driving while under the influence of alcohol is extremely dangerous, totally unacceptable and the courts take the matter very seriously.

“Steer Clear is an intensive course, which is designed to re-educate and rehabilitate those motorists who have made a huge error of judgement. 

“Over the course of three thought-provoking sessions, offenders learn about the impact alcohol has on the body, how it impairs judgement and affects driving ability.

“In addition we discuss the relative strength of different drinks and the all too often tragic consequences drink-driving causes.” 

Steer Clear costs the offender £199 and, while the course is voluntary, motorists who successfully complete the programme will be eligible for a reduction of the length of their driving ban. 

North London Magistrate Kevin Fitzpatrick said: “A sentence is more than mere punishment.

“Magistrates must also seek to deter others, protect the public, compensate the community wronged and encourage those convicted not to reoffend. 

“Therefore the rehabilitation of offenders is a key challenge for us. 

“In the context of drink-driving, all Drink Drivers' Rehabilitation Courses are a key resource.

“The courses go straight to the issues: the effect alcohol has on driving skills; the strength of different drinks; how everyone is affected by the drink-driver and strategies to avoid becoming one.

“Magistrates use these courses to encourage the rehabilitation of offenders, a key requirement when sentencing.”

Of those who attend Steer Clear - which has a 98 per cent pass rate - 90 per cent are men.

The largest proportion of those referred to the course are aged between 18 and 34.