Time to close driving loophole

Car ownership is sky-high, with a private vehicle for every two people in the UK, meaning our roads are as congested as they have ever been while the spectre of air pollution remains a real health risk to both this and future generations.

Despite costly infrastructure projects such as HS2, the state of public transport in this country means we are a laughing stock in the eyes of much of the rest of the world. As long as train fares remain pricier than the respective plane journey, then the automobile will remain king for many years to come.

As a result of this, it appears many motorists arrogantly believe they are above the law. To the untrained eye, there seems to be more idiots on our roads than ever before and although the number of fatalities are at an all-time low, this surely have much to do with the fact that many our cars are now built like mini tanks.

But before you dismiss this as the ramblings of a disgruntled motorists, consider for one minute the shocking findings of a recent BBC investigation.

Using the Freedom of Information Act, reporters discovered there are a staggering 10,000 motorists on our roads who have more than 12 points on their licence.

In one case, a motorist from West Yorkshire had amassed an unbelievable 62 points in three years yet is still allowed to drive among the rest of us.

Once most motorists reach the 12-point landmark, they have to relinquish their driver’s licence and stay off the road for at least six months.

The ban can only be avoided if the motorist can prove it will bring exceptional hardship. Those in charge of British magistrates say that the process of deciding whether someone would face such hardship should they lose their licence is a robust one and the concept of hardship must be proved to an ‘exceptional level’.

At what point does the hardship of one family stop being more important than the safety of others? The only way to stop bad driving is close this loophole now and bring the most arrogant drivers down a peg or two.