Scores of motorists across Cumbria have totted up at least 12 penalty points on their driving licence - the trigger point for a ban from the roads - with a number racking up more than 15 endorsements each.

Newly collated data has revealed for the first time how many people in the county have multiple points on their licence as well as the postcode area in which they live.

It shows a single driver in Barrow has 24 points on their licence, while 20 residents in Carlisle have accumulated at least 12 points each - including six who have been slapped with at least 15.

It is unclear if all have been banned or any have been allowed to keep their licences.

But there are thought to be an estimated 10,000 drivers nationwide who have been allowed to keep their licence despite having an excess number of points.

Most people who accrue more than 12 points on their licence within a three year period are usually issued with a six month driving ban.

There are exceptions to the rule, but these cases are rare and can only be agreed by a judge in exceptional circumstances.

With three points dished out for a speeding offence, and higher allocations for those found guilty of offences such as driving without due care and attention or driving a vehicle without a valid MOT certificate or insurance, those who flout the law can quickly find themselves confined to public transport only.

A former Cumbrian magistrate, based in the south of the county, said the individual circumstances were taken into account in every case where a driving ban was to be considered.

"Magistrates will listen to what the defendant has to say, but they should assume they are coming to court to tell us why they shouldn't be banned.

"If the circumstances are genuinely exceptional, they may keep their licence."

A spokesman for the road safety charity Brake said 12 points should result in an instant ban from the roads, with no exceptions.

The added: "It is disgraceful that these drivers are still driving on our roads, despite having accumulated 12 points or more on their licence.

"These dangerous repeat offenders have been granted ample opportunity to change their driving behaviour yet continue to put lives at risk through their complete disregard for the law.

"This situation makes a mockery of the penalty points system and the government must take action and ensure all drivers with more than 12 points receive an automatic driving ban."

Cumbria's crime commissioner, Peter McCall, said speeding was a major fear in the county - and he wanted to see it tackled.

He said: “Speeding and anti-social driving are among the top concerns that the public raise with me.

"Not only is this dangerous but anti-social driving can make life miserable for residents and this is why I am determined to put more resources into this area.

"For instance, I have recently funded additional ‘speed watch’ laser guns for use by volunteers in the communities, and part of the reason for increasing council tax precept was to invest in officers to help keep our roads safe."

Mr McCall said he had been out on patrol with traffic officers.

“I know that every day our officers are out looking to make the county’s roads safer by stopping drivers who are committing offences or driving defective vehicles, and do a lot of proactive work to publicise the dangers of issues such as driving at inappropriate speeds," he added.

"The key to this is that we all have a responsibility to think about our driving, it is terribly easy for us all to lose concentration and for our speed to be excessive.

“We will continue to get the clear message out to motorists that Cumbria Police will not tolerate those who drive irresponsibly - and those that do so not only put their own lives at risk, but other, innocent people are put at risk too – and this is simply not acceptable."

Carlisle
The data shows there are 25 drivers across the city with more than 12 points on their licence, with those in the south and west of Carlisle having the most endorsements.

One motorist in the CA2 postcode area has 18 points on their licence, another 15, followed by three with 13 points and seven with 12.

In Carlisle east, the CA1 postcode area, two drivers have 15 points, one has 13 and four have 12.

A driver in the north of the city - CA3 -has 16 points.

One driver living in the Warwick Bridge and Wetheral area covered by the CA4 code has 15 points, while another four have 12 points each.

Barrow
In total, there are 14 drivers living across Furness with more than 12 points on their licence.

Among them is a motorist with an LA14 postcode - Barrow and Walney - who has accumulated 24 points on their licence - the highest individual total in Cumbria.

A driver living in LA13, including Barrow and Rampside, Piel or Newton, has 18 points while one in Millom has 14.

Three people in Ulverston - LA12 - and two in Dalton have accumulated 12 points on their licence.

West Cumbria
The analysis shows a driver in Workington has the highest single total in the west of the county - with 18 points on their licence - while a fellow motorist in Cockermouth has 15.

In total 12 residents have more than 12 live penalties on their licence.

Penalty points - how does it work?

You can be given penalty points if you commit a motoring offence.
The number varies depending on the specific offence but is usually three points for speeding, three points for having a defective tyre or up to 11 points for causing death by dangerous driving.
Most stay on your licence for four years, though driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs will remain in place for 11 years.
Drivers are usually disqualified for racking up 12 points within a three year period.
But this is different for new drivers who will be disqualified if they receive six points in their first two years.

Thousands caught speeding through Cumbria in just three years
Cumbria's static speed cameras snapped more than 61,000 motorists in the last three years.

Exclusive figures reveal an average of about 1,700 drivers are caught breaking the limit by the county's fixed traps every month.

The most frequent snapper caught more than 17,000 drivers over this period.

But two of the sites spotted just over 1,000 law-flouting motorists each.

Cash paid in fines goes back to central government.

Cumbria has nine static camera sites scattered across the county.

Each contains two monitors to watch out for motorists on both approaches to the site.

The cameras in question were initially put in at known accident blackspots.

They sit at:

  • Salthouse Road, Barrow
  • Millside on the A590 in the south of the county
  • The A591 at Ings, near Kendal
  • The A65 at Kirkby Lonsdale in south Cumbria
  • Howgate in west Cumbria
  • Low Row, on the A69, near Brampton
  • Warwick Bridge, on the A69, near Carlisle

There are also two average speed cameras.

One was installed at roadworks on the A66 at Marron Bridge, the other sits in the east of the county at Kirkby Thore.

A police spokesman said: "Speed cameras are a vital tool to help keep Cumbria's roads as safe as possible.

"They catch those who are driving at inappropriate and often dangerous speeds and also act as a deterrent to those drivers who might otherwise exceed the speed limit.

"Speed is one of the fatal four factors which contribute to deaths on our roads.

"The others are failure to wear a seat belt, drink and drug driving and distraction driving, often where a driver is using their mobile phone."