More than 4,000 motorists in Britain are still legally driving despite accumulating enough penalty points to trigger an automatic driving ban.

According to new figures obtained by the RAC, these are drivers who have amassed more than 12 points on their licence.

The revelations have reignited concerns about repeat speeding offenders and road safety.

Faster actions

Data obtained from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) by the RAC through a Freedom of Information request reveals that 4,154 drivers currently hold licences despite having amassed 12 or more penalty points, the threshold at which motorists would normally face a minimum six-month disqualification under the UK’s “totting up” rules.

The figures highlight the continued use of the “exceptional hardship” provision, which allows courts to permit offenders to keep their licences if a driving ban would have severe consequences for others, such as dependants, employees or vulnerable family members.

Among the most striking cases were two motorists who had accumulated 43 and 45 penalty points respectively yet remained legally entitled to drive after successfully arguing that a disqualification would cause exceptional hardship.

The data also revealed that 117 drivers have collected more than 20 speeding-related points, including 101 motorists with between 20 and 29 points and a further 14 with between 30 and 39 points.

Putting the foot down

The findings have prompted renewed calls for tougher action against persistent speed offenders.

Simon Williams, RAC head of policy, described the figures as “very concerning”.

“These drivers have amassed 12 points or more, which would normally lead to them losing their licences,” he said. “While exceptional hardship provisions are important in genuine cases, it is worrying that so many repeat offenders are still able to drive despite multiple speeding convictions.”

Inappropriate speed remains one of the most significant contributors to road casualties in the UK.

Department for Transport statistics consistently show that excessive or inappropriate speed is a factor in around a quarter of all fatal collisions.

Government data also suggests that speeding remains widespread, particularly on lower-speed roads, with around half of drivers admitting to exceeding 30mph limits and a significant majority exceeding 20mph limits when roads are free-flowing.

Effective strategies

The latest figures come as the Government seeks to achieve ambitious casualty reduction targets outlined in its new Road Safety Strategy, which aims to cut the number of people killed or seriously injured on Britain’s roads by 65% by 2035.

To help tackle persistent offenders, the RAC is backing the Stop Excessive Speeders campaign, which calls for courts to be given the power to mandate the installation of Intervening Intelligent Speed Assistance (IISA) technology in the vehicles of repeat speeding offenders.

Unlike the advisory Intelligent Speed Assistance systems now fitted to most new cars, IISA actively prevents a vehicle from exceeding the speed limit except in specific emergency override situations, which are recorded for review.

Williams believes the technology could provide a practical alternative to repeated fines and penalty points.

“We urge the Government to consider giving courts the power to order repeat and excessive speeders to have intervening ISA devices fitted to all their vehicles,” he said.

“This will save lives and reduce the number of speed-related collisions on our roads, something which completely aligns with the casualty reduction targets listed in the Road Safety Strategy.”

Popular ideas

Research suggests the proposal would enjoy considerable public support.

RAC surveys conducted during the Government’s consultation on the Road Safety Strategy found that 86% of drivers supported new measures to tackle excessive speeding.

Separate research commissioned by the Stop Excessive Speeders campaign found that eight in 10 drivers would support fitting speed-limiting technology to vehicles belonging to motorists repeatedly caught speeding.

However, road safety organisations have long argued that enforcement alone cannot solve the speeding problem.

Groups including RoSPA and Brake have consistently called for a combination of education, enforcement, safer road design and vehicle technology to reduce casualties.

A spokesperson for the Stop Excessive Speeders campaign said: “Excessive speed remains one of the leading causes of death on our roads, and the public clearly recognises the need for action.

“Intervening Intelligent Speed Assistance is a practical, proportionate solution, targeting repeat offenders while allowing the vast majority of drivers to go about their daily lives without disruption.”

Tech solutions

As with the campaign and support for alcohol locks to be fitted to vehicles of repeat drink drive offenders, pressure is likely to grow on ministers to consider whether existing sanctions are sufficiently deterring the most persistent speed offenders, and whether mandatory fitting of speed locks could prove a useful and effective weapon against repeat offenders.