IT’S ‘appalling’ that 17 Dorset drivers are still allowed to put the public in danger by getting behind the wheel despite having 12 or more points on their licence, a charity has said.

A Freedom of Information request submitted by the Dorset Echo to the DVLA has revealed the number of people living in the DT postcode area who haven’t had their licence taken away despite being given 12 or more points.

Usually when a person accumulates 12 or more points on their licence they are banned from driving.

In a small number of cases however, a magistrates court can exercise discretion and not disqualify the driver.

Magistrates may have decided to allow the driver to retain their entitlement to drive if the disqualification would cause exceptional hardship.

Four of the people still driving despite the points accumulation live in the Dorchester area, three in Weymouth, two in Bridport and one in Lyme Regis.

Three live in the Blandford Forum area, three in Sherborne and one in Sturminster Newton.

Of these people, one from Weymouth and one from Sherborne, are still driving despite accumulating 15 points on their licence.

A spokesman for Brake said: “It is appalling that risky repeat offenders are being allowed to continue driving after accumulating 12 or more points on their licence.

“These drivers have been given plenty of opportunity to change their behaviour. Allowing them to stay on Dorset’s roads puts innocent members of the public in danger and makes a mockery of the points system. It’s time for courts to crack down on these irresponsible individuals. If you need your licence, look after it.”

The DVLA said that the figures are likely to include cases where drivers have received court sentences including disqualification, supervision orders, community orders or imprisonment.

The DVLA checks with courts when a driver’s 12 current penalty point threshold is met or exceeded but where a disqualification is not imposed at the same time of conviction.

It does it this to confirm that this is the intention of the court and to help ensure it records motoring convictions and sentences as accurately as possible.