A Huddersfield driver has clocked up 18 penalty points on their driving licence but has not been banned, new figures have revealed.

A Freedom of Information request by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has revealed one driver, whose car is registered to the HD01 postcode, has escaped a ban despite having 18 points for driving offences.

A total of 24 Huddersfield drivers have more than 12 points - the traditional number that leads to a driving ban - including one driver with 17 points, three with 16 and 7 with 15 points.

In its reply to the IAM’s request, the DVLA said: “In a small percentage of cases where the driver has accumulated 12 or more penalty points, the agency understands that a court can exercise its discretion and not disqualify the driver.

“In the majority of these cases, magistrates may have decided to allow drivers to retain their entitlement to drive where it is considered that disqualification would cause exceptional hardship."

The worst offenders in the UK include a driver in Oxford who has 51 points and drivers in Liverpool and Basildon who have both clocked up 42 points without receiving a driving ban.

Sarah Sillars, IAM chief executive officer, says: "Individual courts making decision on prosecutions can lead to inconsistency in how the law is applied which risks devaluing the simple ‘12 points and you’re out’ road safety message.

"If the public sees that persistent offenders are getting away with it, they may believe that road traffic rules – which let not us not forget, are designed for their safety – are ineffective or unimportant.”

Over 100,000 drivers have been banned for collection 12 points in the past four years, but the DVLA says 90% of drivers who have avoided a ban have done so because of 'judicial discretion'.

Penalty points hall of shame

These are the drivers with the most penalty points on their licence without a ban in the UK.

Points Location

51 Oxford

42 Liverpool

42 Basildon

39 Wigan

38 Burnley

33 Northampton

33 SW London

30 Sheffield

30 Southend-on-Sea

30 Slough

30 Cambridge

29 Peterborough

28 Stevenage