Some motorists caught speeding are still allowed to drive despite accumulating 45 points on their licenses, it has been revealed. 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 waive the ban in cases of “exceptional hardship.”
According to a Freedom of Information request by the RAC, 4,154 drivers in the UK are still legally driving despite surpassing the threshold for license revocation. Among them, 117 drivers have more than 20 speeding points. Notably, two drivers have reached 43 and 45 points but were permitted to continue driving due to potential exceptional hardship. The data also shows 101 drivers with 20 to 29 points and 14 with 30 to 39 points.
The RAC is backing the Stop Excessive Speeders campaign, advocating for courts to have the authority to mandate offenders to install technology in their vehicles that restricts speeding. Known as Intervening Intelligent Speed Assistance (IISA), this system prevents vehicles from surpassing speed limits, except in emergency situations.
Research conducted by the RAC indicates that nearly nine out of 10 drivers support implementing new measures to target excessive speeders. Similarly, research commissioned by the Stop Excessive Speeders campaign shows strong public backing for technology to combat speeding.
Simon Williams, the RAC’s head of policy, expressed concern over repeat speeders continuing to drive despite accumulating 12 or more points, emphasizing the importance of addressing speeding-related collisions. Williams suggested that fitting devices to prevent speeding would be a more effective solution for persistent offenders.
The spokesperson for the Stop Excessive Speeders campaign highlighted the public’s understanding of the link between dangerous driving and saving lives. They underscored that Intervening Intelligent Speed Assistance offers a practical solution to target repeat offenders while allowing the majority of drivers to operate normally.
The campaign emphasizes the necessity of taking action against excessive speed, a leading cause of road fatalities, and emphasizes the importance of addressing dangerous driving habits to enhance road safety.