How many penalty points have you got on your driver’s licence? Shocking data from the DVLA found that over 10,000 motorists in the UK still legally drive despite exceeding the standard threshold for penalty points!
Typically, those drivers who accumulate 12 points within three years (or six within the first two years of passing your test) would result in a six-month suspension and an extended test before returning to the road. However, many drivers can avoid the ban by convincing the courts that losing their licence would lead to “exceptional hardship” that would significantly impact their job or family responsibilities.
Among those 10,000 motorists were a 26-year-old with a staggering 176 penalty points and two other men with over 100 points! The highest point holder among female drivers was a 50-year-old with 96 points, while a further 53 individuals currently held at least 30 points.
Although details have not been announced on the duration over which these points were accumulated, road safety advocates are voicing concerns about the legal leniency that allows these high-point drivers to remain on the road. Nicholas Lyes, a representative of the road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, suggested the need for a reassessment of what qualifies as "exceptional hardship." He noted that most drivers would likely try to avoid accumulating penalty points due to the risk of a ban, yet some appear unfazed by the legal repercussions. He proposed that drivers who reach or exceed 12 points should be required to complete a specialised training course, even if the court allows them to keep their licence.
Steve Gooding of the RAC Foundation, a motoring research charity, also highlighted the need for stricter oversight, calling for closer monitoring of drivers who are permitted to keep their licences despite multiple offences. He also emphasised that the concept of exceptional hardship should only be applied in rare and extraordinary cases.
The DVLA’s role in the process is limited, as it records court decisions regarding licence penalties but does not have the authority to influence sentencing. When a driver reaches 12 points without facing disqualification, the DVLA contacts the issuing court to verify that the decision aligns with judicial intent.
Penalty points are issued for various offences, such as speeding (three to six points), drunk driving (three to eleven points), and careless driving (three to nine points), and can remain on a licence for up to 11 years. In some cases, drivers with multiple convictions return to the road after completing a suspension period.