‘Block danger driver loophole’

MOTORISTS HAVE DODGED A DRIVING BAN

Dozens of “dangerous drivers” are still on the roads in Sunderland, despite racking up enough points for a ban.

Analysis of DVLA data reveals that 68 drivers in the Sunderland area have managed to dodge a ban after being given 12 or more penalty points on their licence – the usual threshold for losing a licence.

Road safety charity Brake has slammed the current system, which it says is allowing “repeat offenders” to exploit loopholes in the law.

It has accused the Government and courts of being “complicit” in putting the public at risk.

If a driver can convince a magistrate that they, or an innocent party such as a family member, will face “exceptional hardship” as a result of losing their licence they may be permitted to keep it.

The latest figures, which record penalty points as of July, show there are almost 11,000 drivers across Great Britain who have retained their licences despite passing the points limit, some with more than 40 or 50 points.

In Sunderland the highest number of points received by one driver who is still allowed to drive is 36.

About 25 in every 100,000 local drivers have at least 12 points on their licence, above the national average of 23 per 100,000.

The data is recorded by postcode district, so some drivers could live just across the border in neighbouring local authority areas.

Joshua Harris, director of campaigns at Brake, said: “By ignoring the exploitation of the ‘exceptional hardship’ loophole that allows unsafe drivers to remain on our roads, the Government and courts are complicit in increasing the risk to the public.

“This dangerous loophole must be dealt with as a matter of urgency so that drivers who reach 12 points are automatically disqualified.”

The charity is calling for the loophole to be closed as part of its Roads to Justice campaign, which says an urgent review should be carried out.