UK government to look into new Brake findings

Date: 19/10/2011

The UK's justice minister Kenneth Clarke has agreed to investigate the findings of new research carried out by Brake and Direct Line.

Discovering that over 10,000 drivers with 12 points on their license are still on the nation's roads, the organisations analysed data provided by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to find that the main offences committed by motorists are speeding or driving without insurance.

The BBC has previously reported that the UK has around two million uninsured drivers on the roads, with a minimum penalty for the offence of six points.

When a driver reaches 12 points, they are traditionally banned from driving and over 13,000 are currently disqualified from getting behind the wheel.

However, if they can prove that a ban would cause them 'exceptional hardship' then the penalty may be lifted.

At the request of Julie Hilling MP and Brake, the government is currently looking into the situation.

Ms Hilling said: "It is vital that this issue is kept at the forefront and that ministers take action to resolve this. I am pleased that the Justice Secretary has promised to investigate and I look forward to hearing his findings."