West Norfolk drivers ‘avoid bans despite points limit’

Dozens of “dangerous drivers” are still on the roads in West Norfolk, despite racking up enough points for a ban.

Analysis of DVLA data reveals that 50 drivers in the area have managed to dodge a ban after being given 12 penalty points, the normal threshold for losing a licence, or more.

Currently, if a driver can convince a magistrate that they, or an innocent party such as a family member, will face “exceptional hardship” as a result of losing their licence they may be permitted to keep it.

The latest figures, which record penalty points as of July, show there are almost 11,000 drivers across Britain who have retained their licences despite passing the points limit in the prescribed period of time.

In West Norfolk, the highest number of points received by one driver who was still allowed to drive was 20.

About 25 in every 100,000 local drivers have at least 12 points on their licence, above the national average of 23 per 100,000.

The data is recorded by postcode district, so some drivers could live just across the border in neighbouring local authority areas.

Road safety charity Brake says the figures are “hugely concerning” and has called for automatic bans to be imposed at the 12-point threshold.

Director of campaigns Joshua Harris, said: “By ignoring the exploitation of the ‘exceptional hardship’ loophole that allows unsafe drivers to remain on our roads, the government and courts are complicit in increasing the risk to the public.

“Driving is a privilege, not a right and if that privilege is not exercised responsibly, it must be taken away.”

Twelve or more points in three years will usually earn a six-month driving ban.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “The vast majority of drivers who get 12 penalty points are automatically disqualified.

“The courts have access to DVLA records which are taken into account, but sentencing is rightly a matter for independent judges based on the facts of each case.”

John Bache, chairman of the Magistrates’ Association, said: “The process for establishing exceptional hardship is robust.

“Magistrates scrutinise every case very carefully and an individual would only avoid a ban if the magistrates sitting in the case are confident that exceptional hardship would genuinely be caused.”