A WOMAN driver from Bolton clocked up 27 points her driving licence — making her one of the 20 worst drivers in the country.

The unnamed motorist racked the points up after being convicted of five offences including speeding and not declaring who was behind the wheel.

The amount is more than twice the 12 point limit at which drivers are suppose to be banned, and was revealed under the Freedom of Information Act from the DVLA by road safety group, The Institute for Advanced Motorists.

MP for Bolton West Julie Hilling said the data showed there was “something seriously wrong with the current system”.

She has previously written to the Department for Transport and Minister for Justice, asking for them to look seriously at the number of drivers who are not disqualified from driving despite having run up 12 or more points on their licence.

She said: “There are really interesting questions as to why this situation is still occurring. It’s an absolute nonsense that people are still driving with so many points — it’s only supposed to be in exceptional circumstances but clearly this isn’t the case.

“The government really needs to take action on this and I will continue to press them for answers.”


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The worst offender on the list was a Liverpool man who accumulated 45 penalty points over eight months for speeding and failing to disclose the identity of the driver — breaking the previous record of 42 points.

A spokesperson for the HM Courts and Tribunals service said it was up to the individual magistrates hearing a case to decide whether a driver is banned from the road.

She added: “The vast majority of drivers who get 12 or more penalty points are fined and disqualified from driving.

“Magistrates can use their discretion to not enforce a driving ban if doing so would cause exceptional hardship, such as losing a job or the ability to care for a dependent. A fine will still be enforced.”

In 2012 The Bolton News revealed figures showing there were 66 drivers in the town who were still on the roads despite receiving more than 12 points on their licence.