RAC ‘very concerned’ as thousands of speeding motorists avoid driving bans

An investigation found more than 4,000 motorists were allowed on the roads despite at least 12 speeding hotspots.

The RAC, which carried out the investigation, called on the Government to force repeat and speeders to fit devices to their vehicles to prevent future crime.

Figures from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) show that 4,154 people in Britain are legally allowed to drive despite having passed the threshold of losing their license after being caught speeding.

Drivers will be given between three and six penalty points for speeding, depending on the severity of the incident.

Points are also given for other offenses such as careless and careless driving, drunk driving and cell phone use.

Under the collection process, if drivers receive 12 or more points over a three-year period, they are generally banned for six months unless they can convince the court that this would cause extraordinary hardship, which may relate to their ability to work or care for their family.

DVLA figures show 117 license holders collected more than 20 points for speeding; one of them received 45 points.

The RAC is backing a new Stop Speeders campaign calling on the Government to give courts the power to order offenders to fit their vehicles with technology that will prevent them from exceeding the speed limit again.

The group’s research has shown that there is public support for mandating the use of interventional intelligent speed assist (IISA) devices that actively stop a vehicle from exceeding the limit.

The government’s latest Road Safety Strategy talks about the benefits of ISA technology, which only goes so far as to warn drivers when the speed limit is exceeded.

Speaking ahead of a parliamentary event on tackling speeding on Wednesday, RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “It is deeply worrying that so many speeders are allowed to continue driving despite accumulating 12 or more points, which would normally lead to them losing their licence.

“A better solution for such individuals who have demonstrated to the court a compelling need to be allowed to continue driving would be to have devices fitted to their vehicles to prevent them from speeding again.

“Our research finds there is strong support among motorists for speeders to have these devices.

“We call on the Government to consider giving courts the power to order habitual and excessive speeders to install intrusive ISA devices on all their vehicles.

“This will save lives and reduce the number of speed-related collisions on our roads.”