DVLA Driving Licence Revocations: Thousands of Motorists Banned from UK Roads

Data from the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency), analysed by motoring experts Dayinsure, reveals a significant number of drivers in the UK have been banned from the roads. The analysis shows that 140,792 road users are currently disqualified from driving. This equates to one in every 374 driving licence holders in the UK being unable to drive.

The number of drivers banned has increased compared to the previous year when one in 431 licence holders were banned. Several factors can lead to a driving ban, with accumulating 12 or more penalty points on a driving licence being a common cause. Certain driving offenses can also lead to immediate bans.

Areas Most Affected by Driving Bans

Liverpool has the highest proportion of banned drivers, with approximately one in 210 licence holders disqualified, totaling 3,154 road users. Bradford follows closely, with 2,159 licences revoked, also representing one in 210 motorists in the area. Teesside is next, with 2,207 banned motorists, followed by Llandudno in Wales (1,737) and Wakefield (1,691). Blackburn, Leeds, Oldham, Sunderland, and Halifax complete the top 10 areas in the UK with the most driving bans.

Reasons for Driving Licence Revocation

Motorists can lose their driving privileges for various reasons, including accumulating 12 or more penalty points on their licence. The duration of a driving ban is determined by a court and can range from six months to two years, depending on the severity of the offense. Factors such as the speed at which penalty points were accumulated and any prior bans may also influence the length of the ban.

Expert Advice on Road Safety

Nicholas Shaw, Managing Director at Dayinsure, emphasized the importance of safe driving practices. He cautioned motorists to exercise extra care and attention while driving, highlighting the unpredictable nature of other road users. “You sadly cannot just assume that others will drive as carefully as you would,” Shaw stated.

Shaw also advised motorists to ensure they are fully insured in case of accidents. Addressing all road users, motorists and drivers, he said: “Our final piece of advice would be to ensure that you are fully insured in case worse comes to worse and you are involved in an accident.”

Additional Data and Statistics

While major cities like London, Birmingham, Cardiff, and Edinburgh did not rank in the top five in terms of per-head statistics, they still have a significant number of banned drivers. London has a total of 7,995 banned drivers, while Birmingham has over 4,000. However, their large populations help balance out these figures in the overall rankings.

The data also reveals some extreme cases, with some individuals accumulating a high number of penalty points while still holding a valid driving licence. Some 50 people have valid driving licences but have racked up over 30 penalty points. Three male drivers have over 100 points and one 26-year-old has 176. One 50-year-old woman has 96.

Nicholas Lyes, director of policy and standards at road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, said: “These shocking statistics call into question whether the definition of exceptional hardship needs reviewing.

“Any driver that is on the cusp of a ban would normally take heed of the risk of losing their licence, but it seems that a minority continue to break the law without any consideration. At the very least, those that accrue 12 or more points on their licence should be required to take an additional training course, even if they are allowed to keep their licence because a court has deemed that losing it would cause exceptional hardship.”

Drivers should be wary of gaining points on their licence as they can be there for up to 11 years after teh offence is committed.