Many drivers may also be unaware that a lack of basic vehicle maintenance could also land you with points – such as defective tyres, blown headlight or brake light bulbs, cracked light covers, smeary windscreen wipers or worn suspension components.
At present, there are 80,484 motorists in the UK with nine points on their licence, 7,804 with 10 points and 4,313 with 11 points.
Meanwhile, there are nearly 8,800 motorists still driving with 12 points or more on their driving licence, with IAM RoadSmart renewing its call for a full review to ensure that drivers with multiple points are always treated in the same way.
The charity argues that until anomalies are removed confidence in the simple “12 points and you are out” system will continue to be undermined.