Over 11,000 new drivers lost their licences in 2019

More than 11,000 newly qualified drivers lost their licences in 2019 under the New Drivers Act 1995, new data has revealed.

The New Drivers Act means any newly qualified driver is placed on a probationary period for the first two years of holding a full licence, during which they receive an automatic ban for accruing six or more penalty points. Both theory and practical tests must be retaken before being allowed back on the road.

Some 11,125 new drivers had their licences revoked under the act in 2019, according to DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) data obtained by AA Driving School via a Freedom of Information request.

Of these cases, 5,503 (49 per cent) were the result of insurance-related offences, with an average of 14 new drivers per day caught behind the wheel of a vehicle not covered by a valid insurance policy. Meanwhile, 2,871 (25 per cent) of the bans were for speeding offences.

In addition, there were 602 bans resulting from “distraction”, such as using a mobile phone behind the wheel, 115 cases of new drivers failing to stop after an accident, 96 bans for alcohol-related driving offences and 40 for drug offences.

Sarah Rees, managing director of AA Driving School, commented: “The amount of people who are caught without car insurance is staggering. It’s a legal requirement not only for new drivers, but drivers of all experiences.

“Statistics showing licence losses under the New Drivers Act are often used as a means to call for stringent graduated drivers licencing to be brought into the UK, but these figures show insurance is actually the single biggest barrier to new drivers staying legal and keeping hold of their licence.

“More must be done to educate people on the risks of driving when uninsured, as well as improve education around other risky driving behaviours, such as speeding and using handheld mobile phones.”

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