One in twenty UK drivers have taken the rap for someone else’s penalty points, according to Confused.com.
Freedom of Information data obtained by Confused.com reveals nearly three million motorists currently have penalty points on their licence, with 70,158 currently holding nine points – just three points off a potential ban. Should 12 points be accumulated by a driver then they are usually disqualified from driving altogether.
And according to additional research commissioned by the leading price comparison website, it’s clear that some drivers are willing to go to extreme lengths to rid themselves of the penalties and dodge a potential ban. One in 16 motorists (6%) have asked a friend or relative to take penalty points for them, with a shocking one in twenty (5%) motorists admitting to having actually paid someone to take their penalty points for them.
Of those who admit to falsely swapping penalty points, more than half have done so three times or more (59%), suggesting that many motorists are adopting a cavalier attitude to the practise.
The most common reason cited by motorists for asking someone to take their points is to keep a clean licence (48%), while a quarter (25%) admit they asked someone else to take their points because they were facing a driving ban.
It emerged there is currently a motorist still on the road, despite having 45 points on their licence – 9 for speeding offences and 36 for failing to disclose the identity of the vehicle driver.
This is a result of a loophole within the current point system which states that an MS90 offence of failing to disclose the identity of the vehicle driver is not something which carries disqualification.
Gemma Stanbury, Head of Motor Insurance at Confused.com said, ”It’s concerning to see that one in 20 motorists (5%) admit to taking on a friend or relative’s penalty points.
“Avoiding penalty points for a motoring offence means many drivers who are prone to offences, such as speeding, remain on the roads, where they may pose a risk to others. Penalty points are designed to deter drivers from repeatedly breaking the law and to penalise those who do.
“The police are aware that there are drivers on the roads who are illegally swapping points, and motorists should remember that the police have direct access to DVLA data where they can look at anyone’s driving record to compare photos. It can be easy for the police to match photos using DVLA information, and to ascertain whether the person taking points is the vehicle’s driver.
“Incurring multiple sets of penalty points can result in motoring fines, increased insurance premiums, and even disqualification from driving, so motorists should always drive safely and responsibly when on the roads.”
