Banned before passing a driving test? This could be a reality for learner drivers

Learner drivers may face a ban from the roads before even passing their test if they do not follow important rules, as figures show 76,000 learners have points on their provisional licences.

Of these, 61 per cent already have between six and 10 points. 33,000 drivers were hit with points over driving without insurance, while 13,000 were penalised for driving without a supervisor.

Another source of the fines were learner drivers not displaying their L-plates correctly. James Armstrong, CEO of Veygo, a short term car insurance company, said: “The number of provisional points has jumped this year due to more learner drivers on the road as they await coveted driving test spots amid the pandemic backlog.

“We’d urge people to review the rules as penalties can be more severe for learners and newer drivers, who can have their licences revoked if they commit an offence or exceed six penalty points within two years of passing their test.” It comes amid a major backlog for learner drivers.

Loveday Ryder, DVSA chief executive, said in a statement: “We’ve already put in place measures to monitor and prevent bots from accessing our systems while also strengthening our firewall to tackle the issue. We will continue to work tirelessly to crack down on companies that are exploiting learner drivers.”

He added: “We’ve closed the system to new registrations and will rapidly close down accounts that do not belong to driving instructors and driving schools. We’ll also be taking further steps to make sure all future accounts are linked to driving instructors and those with training businesses.”