DOZENS of drivers “dangerous drivers”are still on the roads in the Vale of Glamorgan, despite racking up enough points for a ban.

Analysis of DVLA data reveals 55 drivers in the Vale of Glamorgan area have dodged a ban after being given 12 or more penalty points on their licence – the usual threshold for losing a licence.

Road safety charity Brake has slammed the current system, which it says is allowing “repeat offenders” to exploit loopholes in the law.

Joshua Harris, director of campaigns at Brake, said it is “hugely concerning” that so many offenders are being allowed to keep driving.

He said continued: “By ignoring the exploitation of the ‘exceptional hardship’ loophole that allows unsafe drivers to remain on our roads, the Government and courts are complicit in increasing the risk to the public.” The charity is calling for the loophole to be closed as part of its Roads to Justice campaign, which says an urgent review should be carried out.

Currently, if a driver can convince a magistrate that they, or an innocent party, will face ‘exceptional hardship’ as a result of losing their licence they may be permitted to keep it.

The latest figures show there are almost 11,000 drivers across Great Britain who have retained their licences despite passing the points limit, some with more than 40 or 50 points.

In the Vale of Glamorgan the highest number of points received by one driver who is still allowed to drive is 20.

John Bache, chairman of the Magistrates Association, said added: “The process for establishing exceptional hardship is robust – magistrates scrutinise every case very carefully.”

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “The vast majority of drivers who get 12 penalty points are automatically disqualified.”