Thousands let off from driving ban

A motorist has been allowed to keep his driving licence despite amassing 54 penalty points. The 27-year-old, from Stockton in the North East, is the most extreme example from a figure which saw 11,000 motorists escape a ban last year despite totting up 12 points or more on their licence. The figure was revealed by a Sunday newspaper after an inquiry under the Freedom of Information Act.

About a quarter of those who were granted a reprieve did so under the “exceptional hardship” provisions which give the courts some discretion in deciding whether or not to impose a driving ban.

Mike Penning, the road safety minister has ordered an inquiry after it emerged that around 1,000 other drivers are also still allowed on the roads because the decision to revoke their licence has not yet reached the DVLA. He said he was adamant that it would not happen in the future.

The AA has criticised the fact that so many drivers who should be banned, are still allowed on UK roads. Andrew Howard, the organisation’s head of road safety said: “You are not talking about someone who has made one mistake but four. If a quarter of motorists are getting let off, we seem to have forgotten the purpose of the law is to inconvenience those who repeatedly break it.”