More than 4,000 drivers in England and Wales are still legally permitted to drive despite having accumulated 12 or more penalty points on their licence, according to data obtained by the RAC from the DVLA. Under normal circumstances, reaching 12 points within three years triggers an automatic six-month ban, but magistrates can use discretion to avoid causing 'exceptional hardship'.
The figures reveal that 4,154 drivers have exceeded the 12-point threshold but remain on the road. Among them, 117 have more than 20 points, with two drivers holding 43 and 45 points respectively. The RAC's head of policy, Simon Williams, expressed concern, noting that speeding is a leading factor in serious collisions.
The RAC is backing the Stop Excessive Speeders campaign, which calls for courts to order repeat offenders to have Intervening Intelligent Speed Assistance (IISA) fitted to their vehicles. This technology prevents the car from exceeding the speed limit, except in emergency overrides which are logged for review. Research shows nearly nine in ten drivers support such measures.
A spokesperson for the campaign said the public recognises the link between tackling dangerous driving and saving lives, describing IISA as a 'practical, proportionate solution'. The RAC urges the government to give courts the power to mandate these devices for repeat and excessive speeders, aligning with casualty reduction targets in the Road Safety Strategy.
