The Liberal Democrats have today revealed that 1,278 drivers with 12 points or more on their record are still behind the wheel and called for an examination of whether persistent offenders are being properly dealt with.
Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson Sarah Olney has warned Ministers that people’s safety is at risk and said: “It’s important that repeat offenders and dangerous drivers are kept off the roads.”
With a fall in car use because of the Government’s efforts to deal with the Coronavirus pandemic, the Liberal Democrats believe that the UK Government should address dangerous drivers before the lockdown is lifted.
Figures acquired by the Liberal Democrats from the DVLA through freedom of information reveal that:
1,024,489 drivers in the UK currently have points on their licence.
1278 drivers currently still on the road have 12 or more points on their licence. The highest number of points held by a single driver is 68.
Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson Sarah Olney said: “For the safety of everyone driving on our roads, it’s important that repeat offenders and dangerous drivers are kept off the roads.
“It’s possible that there are mitigating factors in some cases which justify these drivers hanging on to their right to drive. But if we are honest, if you have racked up a dozen points, you are probably a bad driver.
“The UK Government should examine whether the right systems are in place to put the brakes on problem drivers. With fewer drivers on the road than ever before, now is the time to consider what can be done.”