Telford driver with 27 POINTS on his licence still allowed to drive

The driver was one of 50 motorists across the region to have kept their licence after reaching the usual disqualification limit of 12.

The motorist with 27 points was among more than 19,000 in the county to have penalty points on their licence.

Today, road safety charities have hit out at the findings and called on courts to ensure proper deterrents are in place for motorists who continue to flout road laws.

The 27 points were accrued for three incidents of speeding and three of failing to give the identity of a driver. The motorist was from the TF7 area of the county – Madeley, Sutton Hill and Woodside in Telford.

Points for driving while disqualified remain on a licence for four years, including after the end of the ban.

Most motorists who accrue 12 points will face a six-month ban at court, but magistrates can use their discretion to spare the punishment if it would cause "exceptional hardship". The figures also show the highest number of points without losing a licence in the SY postcode areas was a motorist in SY11 who had 18.

The figures, obtained by the Shropshire Star following a Freedom of Information request to the DVLA, is a "snapshot" of its data from October 15 this year. In the SY postcodes, 20 motorists had reached the 12-point mark and kept their licence, with 30 in TF areas.

Jack Kushner, spokesperson for Brake, the road safety charity, said: "It is appalling that risky repeat offenders are being allowed to continue driving in Shropshire, with as many as 27 points on their licence.

"Individuals who have accumulated 12 points have been granted ample opportunities to change their driving behaviour, and allowing these drivers to stay on the road makes a mockery of the points system.

"It's time for courts to crack down on these irresponsible individuals."

The Freedom of Information results reveal 19,407 motorists in the TF and SY postcodes have penalty points on their licences.