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| Thousands of UK motorists can drive with over 12 points | Thousands of UK motorists can drive with over 12 points |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| More than 10,000 motorists are allowed on the roads despite having 12 or more penalty points on their licence. | More than 10,000 motorists are allowed on the roads despite having 12 or more penalty points on their licence. |
| Analysis by BBC News shows motorists in the north of England had the most licences with a dozen or more points. | Analysis by BBC News shows motorists in the north of England had the most licences with a dozen or more points. |
| Road safety charities said allowing people with lots of points to stay on the road made a mockery of the system. | Road safety charities said allowing people with lots of points to stay on the road made a mockery of the system. |
| The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency said the figure included people who had served a ban and had successfully reapplied for their licence. | The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency said the figure included people who had served a ban and had successfully reapplied for their licence. |
| Drivers are usually banned if they get 12 penalty points within three years, but magistrates can choose not to enforce it in "exceptional cases". | |
| The data, covering Great Britain as of the end of June 2017, also showed: | The data, covering Great Britain as of the end of June 2017, also showed: |
| Jason Wakeford, the director of campaigns for Brake, the road safety charity, said: "Allowing dangerous drivers to stay on the road makes a total mockery of the points system. | Jason Wakeford, the director of campaigns for Brake, the road safety charity, said: "Allowing dangerous drivers to stay on the road makes a total mockery of the points system. |
| "These are irresponsible individuals who have shown disregard for the law and the lives of other road users, time after time. People who clock up over 12 points should face an automatic ban - there needs to be a clear message that dangerous driving will not be tolerated." | "These are irresponsible individuals who have shown disregard for the law and the lives of other road users, time after time. People who clock up over 12 points should face an automatic ban - there needs to be a clear message that dangerous driving will not be tolerated." |
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| 'Six months is not enough' | 'Six months is not enough' |
| Ann Hannon's son Matt was 22 when he died. He had been racing his best friend Steve Hayhurst, who was 23 at the time and admitted causing death by dangerous driving. Matt's family pleaded with the judge to spare him a prison sentence. | Ann Hannon's son Matt was 22 when he died. He had been racing his best friend Steve Hayhurst, who was 23 at the time and admitted causing death by dangerous driving. Matt's family pleaded with the judge to spare him a prison sentence. |
| Mrs Hannon, of Blackburn, said driving bans needed to be longer in order to make people think about the consequences of bad driving. | Mrs Hannon, of Blackburn, said driving bans needed to be longer in order to make people think about the consequences of bad driving. |
| "Six months is not enough," she said. "People use their cars for getting to work and going out. They can get by for six months. A year would make more of a difference. | "Six months is not enough," she said. "People use their cars for getting to work and going out. They can get by for six months. A year would make more of a difference. |
| "Speeding is still a big problem, but there's more focus on mobile phones as well. You see people on their phones at the wheel." | "Speeding is still a big problem, but there's more focus on mobile phones as well. You see people on their phones at the wheel." |
| Mrs Hannon, of Blackburn, has worked with the Wasted Lives campaign in Lancashire to educate young drivers about risks on the road. | Mrs Hannon, of Blackburn, has worked with the Wasted Lives campaign in Lancashire to educate young drivers about risks on the road. |
| The data includes drivers who have served a driving ban and successfully re-applied for their licence. It does not include people who were currently banned as of the end of June. | The data includes drivers who have served a driving ban and successfully re-applied for their licence. It does not include people who were currently banned as of the end of June. |
| The area with the highest proportion of drivers with a dozen or more points was Blackburn with Darwen. Sixty-seven drivers there had a dozen or more points in June 2017, which is equivalent to almost 60 out of of every 100,000 motorists. | The area with the highest proportion of drivers with a dozen or more points was Blackburn with Darwen. Sixty-seven drivers there had a dozen or more points in June 2017, which is equivalent to almost 60 out of of every 100,000 motorists. |
| Penalty points and the law | Penalty points and the law |
| Bans are six months for 12 or more penalty points accrued within three years. | |
| Most points remain valid for three years from conviction, but stay on licences for four years, which is why so many drivers have a high number of points but are allowed to be on the roads. | Most points remain valid for three years from conviction, but stay on licences for four years, which is why so many drivers have a high number of points but are allowed to be on the roads. |
| The number of points put on a licence varies depending on the offence. | The number of points put on a licence varies depending on the offence. |
| Exceeding the speed limit can lead to three to six points as can using a mobile phone at the wheel. | Exceeding the speed limit can lead to three to six points as can using a mobile phone at the wheel. |
| Someone who drives above the legal alcohol limit would get 10 points. | Someone who drives above the legal alcohol limit would get 10 points. |
| Up to 11 points can be put on a licence for drug driving and these stay on licences for up to 11 years. | Up to 11 points can be put on a licence for drug driving and these stay on licences for up to 11 years. |
| Source: Gov.uk | Source: Gov.uk |
| The Ministry of Justice said decisions on sentencing were a matter for the courts, taking into account the "full facts" of the case. | The Ministry of Justice said decisions on sentencing were a matter for the courts, taking into account the "full facts" of the case. |
| A spokeswoman said: "Drivers who kill ruin lives and must face the full force of the law. While we can never compensate for the loss of a loved one, we are clear that the punishment must fit the crime. | A spokeswoman said: "Drivers who kill ruin lives and must face the full force of the law. While we can never compensate for the loss of a loved one, we are clear that the punishment must fit the crime. |
| "Last year, the government issued a consultation that will see the maximum sentence in this area increase from 14 years to life. We are now considering the consultation responses. Any announcement will be made in due course." | "Last year, the government issued a consultation that will see the maximum sentence in this area increase from 14 years to life. We are now considering the consultation responses. Any announcement will be made in due course." |