Driver Not Banned Despite 42 Points On Licence

A driver with 42 points on her licence is still on the road, according to a new analysis of DVLA figures.

The woman, from Isleworth in west London, accumulated all the points last year for failing to disclose the driver's identity.

Motorists can be banned for building up 12 points over a three-year period but magistrates can use their discretion if a ban would cause exceptional hardship, such as losing a job or meaning a child cannot be cared for.

The second-highest points total - according to the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) research - is 36.

That tally belongs to a man from Warrington who was caught without insurance six times in less than two weeks between February and March last year.

Other notable offenders, according to the analysis of DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) figures are:

:: A man from Southend with 30 points, who was caught speeding 10 times between March 2011 and August 2012.

:: A man from Blackburn with 29 points, who was caught speeding eight times between September and November 2011.

:: A man from Pevensey, East Sussex, with 24 points who was caught speeding six times in two weeks between September 30 and October 13 last year.

Institute of Advanced Motorists Chief Executive Simon Best said the examples showed the system was not working properly.

"Drivers must expect that 12 points means a ban or the whole system falls into disrepute," he said.

"DVLA and the courts service are upgrading their computer systems to ensure that offence information is shared more efficiently, but this is not due to be in place until October.

"When drivers with 10 speeding offences are getting away with holding a licence, these improvements cannot come quickly enough."

A spokesman for the Courts & Tribunals Service said the "vast majority" of drivers with 12 points were banned.

He added: "Only a very small number of cases are affected by the data-sharing issue and we are working closely with DVLA to improve this."