- A total of 10,056 drivers have a valid permit despite having at least 12 points
- Repeat offenders are taking advantage of a legal loophole that allows them to stay on the road
A driver in his 20s with 176 penalty points is among more than 10,000 offenders still on the road when they would normally be banned, prompting calls for a crackdown.
The figures, from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), were branded “shocking” by a leading road safety charity, which said such drivers should be forced to undergo additional training.
The 26-year-old with 176 points is one of three licensed men with more than 100 points.
The 26-year-old with 176 points is one of three licensed men with more than 100 points.
A total of 10,056 drivers have a valid license despite having at least 12 points and 53 people have at least 30 points
A 50-year-old woman also has 96 points.
No details have been released on how long the points were accumulated.
Typically, drivers receive a six-month suspension if they receive 12 or more points in a three-year period.
But leniency applies if offending motorists can convince a court that a ban would result in “exceptional hardship,” which could be related to their ability to work or care for their family.
Points remain on a license for years after a ban is served.
The courts have previously promised to come down hard on repeat drivers who abuse this loophole.
In 2020, the Sentencing Council published new Magistrates’ Court sentencing guidelines to prevent motorists from claiming that their disqualification from driving will result in exceptional hardship.
It decided that loss of employment caused by a driving disqualification is no longer sufficient on its own to demonstrate exceptional hardship.
As of October 1, 2020, violators must prove that the loss of their license is more than just an inconvenience.
However, the crackdown was unsuccessful, as the number of drivers on the road increased by more than a dozen points after the rules were introduced.
A total of 10,056 drivers have a valid license despite having at least 12 points (up from around 9,000 in 2020) and 53 people have at least 30 points.
Nicholas Lyes, director of policy and standards at road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, part of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: “These shocking statistics call into question whether the definition of exceptional hardship needs to be reviewed.
“At a minimum, those who accumulate 12 or more points on their license should be required to take an additional training course, even if they are allowed to keep their license.”
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation motoring research charity, said: “Exceptional difficulties must be truly exceptional.”
“A little more transparency in the system could ensure that the right balance is struck between personal mobility and our collective security.”
Points are awarded following convictions for offenses such as driving without due care and attention (three to nine points), drink-driving (three to 11) and speeding (three to six).
Points for minor speeding offenses (which are awarded if a driver is unfit or unable to take a speed awareness course) are usually added to the driver’s license without the driver having to go to court.
The figures, from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), were branded “shocking” by a leading road safety charity.
The DVLA said it records information provided by the courts and has no influence on sentences.
Points remain on licenses for four to 11 years after committing a crime, meaning some people with multiple driving convictions can drive legally because they have served a disqualification period.
DVLA figures do not show how many motorists avoided a ban despite reaching 12 points. Details of the individual drivers who had racked up the highest totals were not available.
The DVLA said it records information provided by the courts and has no influence on sentences.
When the 12-point threshold is met but a disqualification is not imposed, the agency said it contacts the appropriate court to verify that was the intent.
