Banned drivers should be made to resit their test, safety campaigners say ~ station of gear

Only a handful of drivers with a driving ban are currently required to resit their test before receiving their licence back

2017-05-11 12:45

Motorists with driving bans should be made to resit their driving test before receiving their licences back, a report on road safety has concluded. Currently, only a handful of banned drivers are made to resit their driving exam, with most handed their licence back after a set period of time.

A report on road safety by the All-Party Parliamentary Cycling Group said the Government should impose “more frequent testing on drivers who have committed offences.”

The proposals received support from senior police figures. Detective Chief Superintended Paul Rickett, from the Metropolitan Police said: “Retesting and requalification on a regular basis would be hugely beneficial.”

• More and more drivers with 12 points on their licence avoid a driving ban

The report also called for the Government to close a loophole that allows drivers with 12 or more points to escape a driving ban by pleading it would cause them “exceptional hardship,” such as a loss of a job. There are more than 8,500 drivers with 12 or more points on their licence - which should result in an automatic ban - still driving on our roads.

Ruth Cadbury, co-chairwoman of the group, said: “Threatening behaviour by vehicle drivers towards more vulnerable road users who are on bikes and on foot is routinely tolerated and rarely punished.

“Our roads police are under-resourced and people who have flagrantly and habitually flouted the law are allowed to continue being a menace on our roads.”

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Martin Saarinen

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