Banned Young Drivers Slip Through Police Net

It seems that many young people cannot keep their licences when they have only just been issued. Many are getting penalty points soon after passing their test. But it seems they are still driving even if they have subsequently lost their licence.

Young drivers who act recklessly on the roads may become lost to police due to the nature of a road safety law, it has been claimed.

The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (Pacts) has stated that 40,000 young motorists may be continuing to get behind the wheel even though they no longer hold a valid licence. These young offenders are deliberately flouting the law and a showing little regard for other road users by getting back behind the wheel whilst banned.

"There is strong evidence that many thousands of novice drivers disqualified through the New Drivers Act are continuing to drive unlicensed," said a Pacts director.

It can be difficult for police to find these young criminals without stopping every young person they see and asking to see their licence.

The New Drivers Act has seen 62,000 drivers banned from the road - but half disappear as they continue to drive without a licence. The act states that:

“A person’s driving licence will be revoked if they build up six or more penalty points within two years of passing their first driving test.”

This means you will need to reapply for you driving licence as a learner driver and retake your test.

Similarly, it may be likely that these drivers are taking to the road without car insurance - a potential disaster for legitimate drivers. If you are involved in an accident with another vehicle whose driver does not have insurance you will get no compensation. You will have to claim on your own insurance to get your car repaired or written off. Some insurance policies now have clauses that relate to collisions with uninsured drivers. It is worth checking your own policy if you are worried about this sort of incident happening to you. Some research on the internet will show which insurance companies offer this type of service.

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