Some individuals who have been caught speeding are still permitted to drive despite accumulating 45 points on their driving license, according to recent findings.
In England and Wales, drivers who amass 12 or more points within a three-year period face an automatic ban of at least six months. However, magistrates have the discretion to avoid a ban in cases of “exceptional hardship.”
The RAC, through a Freedom of Information request, uncovered that 4,154 drivers in the UK can still legally drive despite surpassing the disqualification threshold. Among them, 117 drivers have more than 20 speeding points. Notably, two drivers have accumulated 43 and 45 points but continue driving due to exceptional hardship reasons. The data also reveals 101 drivers with 20 to 29 points and 14 drivers with 30 to 39 points.
To address this issue, the RAC supports the Stop Excessive Speeders campaign, advocating for the implementation of technology that limits speed for offenders. This technology, known as Intervening Intelligent Speed Assistance (IISA), restricts vehicle speed to the limit with emergency override capabilities.
Research by the RAC indicates that nearly nine out of 10 drivers endorse new measures targeting excessive speeders, aligning with public support for using technology to combat speeding.
Simon Williams, RAC’s head of policy, expressed concern over allowing repeat speeders to continue driving despite accumulating disqualification points. He suggested fitting devices in vehicles to prevent speeding for such individuals, emphasizing the potential to save lives and reduce speed-related accidents.
The Stop Excessive Speeders campaign spokesperson highlighted the public’s understanding of the connection between addressing dangerous driving and saving lives. Intervening Intelligent Speed Assistance offers a practical solution to target repeat offenders while minimizing disruptions for the majority of drivers.
