RAC calls for court powers to reduce speeding offences
More than 4,000 drivers with 12 or more penalty points for speeding offences are still driving, according to the RAC.
Its Freedom of Information request to the DVLA revealed that 4,154 drivers are still legally permitted to drive despite having accumulated 12 or more points. That is the threshold for drivers to lose their licences.
The data further found that 117 drivers have collected more than 20 speeding points while two drivers have amassed 43 and 45 points but have been allowed to continue driving as courts ruled a ban would have caused exceptional hardship.
To tackle the issue, the RAC is backing the Stop Excessive Speeders campaign which is calling for the government to allow courts to order repeat offenders to fit technology to their vehicles that prohibits speeding.
Repeat speeders
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “It’s very concerning that so many repeat speeders have been allowed to carry on driving despite amassing 12 points or more which would normally lead to them losing their licences – and for very good reason given that speeding is one of the leading factors in the most serious collisions on our roads.
“A better solution for people like this who have demonstrated a compelling need to the court to be allowed to continue driving would be for them to have devices fitted to their vehicles that prevent them speeding again. Our research also identifies strong support among drivers for those who speed excessively to have to have these devices.
“We urge the government to consider giving courts the power to order repeat and excessive speeders to have Intervening Intelligent Speed Assistance devices fitted to all their vehicles. This will save lives and reduce the number of speed-related collisions on our roads – something which completely aligns with the casualty reduction targets listed in the Road Safety Strategy.”
