NSC alarm as drivers reach maximum points

The National Safety Council has expressed concern about road safety standards after reports 10 motorists received the maximum 12 penalty points since the introduction of the scheme two years ago.

Reports this morning said a further 50 motorists were also within one offence of being suspended from driving, while a total of 196,150 penalty points had been handed out since October 2002, the vast majority for speeding offences.

Safety Council chairman Eddie Shaw said the figures raised serious concerns about the penalty points system.

"The purpose of penalty points is not actually to put people off the road, it is to increase the level of compliance," he said.