A brazen motorist has been caught driving while disqualified a staggering 20 times within a four-year period, prompting experts to call for more police action.
The driver, who has not been identified, was among 37,595 British road users convicted of a motoring offence.
In total, there were more than 8,000 repeat offenders, with 123 people being caught more than five times and 10 people being caught more than 10 times.
According to the investigation undertaken by the PA news agency, thousands of drivers continued to stay on the road despite being banned.
More than 8,000 people were caught driving despite being banned
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The data comes from Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) statistics, with a senior police officer saying the figures represented the actions of “selfish” drivers.
A BA10 endorsement is given when people drive while disqualified by a court of law.
This can lead to a driver receiving six penalty points on their licence, with the endorsement staying on a driving record for four years after the offence.
Andy Cox, Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Superintendent, warned motorists of their actions, saying that driving is “not a right but a privilege”.
Cox, who is also the national lead for fatal road crashes at the National Police Chiefs’ Council, has called for the introduction of lifetime driving bans.
He added: “Disqualified drivers have already committed road crimes, endangering safety in a manner sufficient to lose their licence.
“Those individuals who continue to drive whilst disqualified brazenly ignore the punishment handed down to them, and in doing so risk the safety of themselves and others.
“These selfish lawbreaking actions can have fatal consequences, needlessly cutting lives short and causing lifelong trauma for bereaved families.
“The public understandably expects these serious offences to be recognised as such when habitual disqualified drivers are brought to justice. Via deterrence we can reduce danger on our roads and ultimately save lives.”
Other endorsements can stay on a driving record for 11 years and see motorists hit with between three and 11 penalty points on their licence.
These include CD40 which is causing death through careless driving when unfit through drink and CD50 which is issued for causing death by careless driving when unfit through drugs.
Edmund King, president of the AA, said: “Many of these serial disqualified drivers think they are outside the law.
“We need more cops in cars to target these offenders and increase the perception that they are more likely to be caught.
“Unfortunately there has been a general decline in traffic police numbers over the last decade and this needs to be reversed to keep our roads safe.”
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A petition was launched in 2022 calling on the Government to hand out lifetime driving bans if someone is convicted of causing death by dangerous driving, which attracted more than 13,000 signatures.
In a response given earlier this year, the Government said it takes road safety seriously and keeps motoring offences under review.
It added that a Call for Evidence is being considered which could see new measures introduced in the coming years.
