Of all drivers who have been handed 12 penalty points on their licence, more than a quarter avoided a ban - not to mention the prospect of more expensive car insurance.
According to figures released under a freedom of information request, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency said 31,100 drivers lost their licence last year because they had 12 points. But 11,226 drivers with 12 points were not banned from the road, including one North East man who clocked up a total of 54 points, more than four times the ban threshold.
The 27-year-old, who lives in Stockton-on-Tees, began scoring points three years ago when was done for driving while using a mobile phone, for which he was convicted on a further six occasions. Several times he did not tell police officers who was driving his car and was also found to have being driving "otherwise than in accordance with a licence".
It is not know if the man, who was eventually banned in April, avoided a ban because of lenient magistrates or because of administrative mistakes.
One motorist in Birmingham was not banned despite having 38 points and a motorist in Enfield was still allowed to drive while having 35 points.
In all, 176 drivers were not banned despite each having at least 20 points, with their convictions including driving while drunk or on illegal drugs and using a vehicle without car insurance.
Drivers who have 12 penalty points can avoid a ban if they successfully argue that they would endure exceptional hardship if their licence was taken from them.
