Driver receives 45 points in nine months
Tue, 07 Jan 2014
Mitsubishi
The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has uncovered the ‘top 20’ driving licence penalty points holders in the UK – revealing that one man from Liverpool has racked up an incredible 45 points, beating the previous record of 42.
But what’s truly astonishing about this is that he ‘achieved’ the 45-point tally in just nine months, between 1 October 2012 and 20 June 2013 – and what’s more, he’s apparently still driving.
Top Gear presenters banned from driving in France50,000 new drivers lose licence within two yearsThe penalty points were received for eight separate offences, and either failing to disclose the identity of the driver or exceeding the statutory speed limit on a public road.
The second highest points holder in the new top 20 is a man from Warrington in Cheshire, who was caught driving without insurance six times in less than two weeks, from 20 February to 2 March 2012. He accumulated 36 points as a result.
A woman from Hull received 31 points after being caught speeding eight times in two months
Another man was caught speeding six times in two weeks, between 20 September and 13 October 2012. This Westcliff-on-Sea resident has 30 points on his licence as a result. It’s not just men who are at fault, though.
A woman from Lincoln has 34 points on her licence after being caught speeding three times and failing to give information to identify the driver four times between 15 January and 26 September 2012.
And a woman from Hull received 31 points after being caught speeding eight times in two months, between 29 September and 29 November 2011.
The IAM got the figures through a freedom of information request to the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA), following up a story last year about the previous points record holder.
Commenting on the situation the IAM's chief executive, Simon Best, said:
"Last September, the IAM highlighted a driver with 42 points on their licence and we were told that more would be done to address the issue.
"Incredibly, we now have someone driving with 45 points. DVLA must rapidly overhaul their systems and working relationships with the courts to ensure that the whole principle of 12 points and you are off the road is not undermined."
Judging by this new record, and the other 19 offenders detailed below, we’d have to say that it looks to us as if the undermining has already happened. However, Best continued:
"Any suggestion that some drivers may be able to speed with impunity and then talk themselves out of a ban puts our whole approach to enforcement into question. The police and the motoring public need to have confidence that those caught speeding or breaking other motoring laws will be dealt with equally."
Here’s the full top 20:
Total pointsGenderAreaNumber of offencesOffences45MaleLiverpool8Not declaring the driver and speeding36MaleWarrington6Driving uninsured34FemaleLincoln7Not declaring the driver and speeding31FemaleHull6Not declaring the driver and speeding30MaleWestcliff-on-Sea10Speeding30MaleColchester4Not declaring the driver30MaleBrighouse5Not declaring the driver30MaleDoncaster8Not declaring the driver and speeding30MaleDagenham6Driving otherwise than in accordance with the licence, not declaring the driver and speeding28MaleSE6, London4Driving uninsured27MaleOldham5Not declaring the driver and speeding27MaleLeeds4Driving uninsured, driving without due care and attention27MaleE16, London5Using a vehicle with defective tyres, causing or permitting driving uninsured27MaleSt Ives, Cambs5Using a vehicle with defective tyres, driving uninsured27MalePortsmouth9Speeding and speeding on a motorway27FemaleBolton5Not declaring the driver and speeding26MaleDurham5Not declaring the driver, speeding, using mobile phone26MaleClitheroe8Speeding25MaleLeeds4Failing to stop at an accident, using mobile phone, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, speeding24MaleW9, London4Not declaring the driverOn Bing: see pictures of driving licence offencesHow motoring convictions affect your car insuranceFixed Penalty Notice driving offences explainedTop Gear presenters banned from driving in France50,000 new drivers lose licence within two yearsBy CJ Hubbard, contributor, MSN Cars