Driver escapes ban despite having 36 penalty points

This driver is one of 11 people in the region who have amassed 280 penalty points between them yet are still on the road.

The DVLA said that 860 people have 12 points or more on their licence - normally the limit for when someone is banned from driving - with 576 in the West Midlands, 224 in Staffordshire and 60 in Shropshire.

A driver from Rugeley was allowed to keep their licence despite collecting three times the amount that would normally bring a ban.

The motorist was caught on two occasions using a mobile phone at the wheel and driving with defective tyre. On three occasions they also failed to provide information to identify themselves.

A motorist from Wednesbury on four occasions received six points for failure to identify themselves and then was given another six points for exceeding speed limit on a motorway.

The figures also reveal that someone in Oldbury has 25 points on their licence, which they racked up by drink-driving and being caught speeding five times.

Data released under the Freedom of Information Act also revealed a driver from Dudley has 30 points and another from Willenhall has 24 points.

Racking up penalty points costs UK drivers more than £132 million a year in higher insurance premiums, according to the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

The courts can decide not to ban a driver in special circumstances.

Natasha Allmark from Wolverhampton Liberal Democrats, who submitted the FOI request, said allowing some drivers special dispensation "makes a mockery of the system".

She said: "It is outrageous that these selfish, repeat offenders are being allowed to continue driving.

"I believe that allowing these drivers to continue on the road makes a mockery of the system. It is time for courts to crack down on these irresponsible individuals.

"The penalty points system is supposed to be in place to protect the public from dangerous repeat offenders and it's appalling that these risky repeat offenders are allowed to keep driving."