A woman from Isleworth, West London, accumulated 42 licence penalty points last year, according to the latest figures from the DVLA1.  The points were all for failing to disclose the identity of the driver between 26 May and 21 December 2012.

The second-highest points total, 36, went to a man from Warrington, Cheshire, who was caught driving without insurance six times in less than two weeks, between 20 February and 2 March 2012.

Other notable offenders include: • A man from Southend-on-Sea with 30 points, who was caught speeding ten times between 14 March 2011 and 3 August 2012. • A man from Blackburn with 29 points, who was caught speeding eight times in two months, between 29 September 2011 and 29 November 2011. • A man from Pevensey, East Sussex, with 24 points who was caught speeding six times in just two weeks, between 30 September and 13 October 2012.

Failing to give the identity of the owner, speeding, and driving uninsured are the most common reasons for points.

Of the top twenty licence-points holders, only two are women.

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “It’s really disappointing to see that this issue has not yet been resolved.  DVLA and the Courts Service are upgrading their computer systems to ensure that offence information is shared more efficiently, but this is not due to be in place until October.  When drivers with ten speeding offences are getting away with holding a licence, these improvements cannot come quickly enough.

The IAM has no sympathy for owners who refuse to reveal the identity of the driver, and we would welcome an urgent consultation on new ways to deal with this problem.   Drivers must expect that 12 points means a ban or the whole system falls into disrepute.”