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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Neil Lancefield

Warning issued as thousands of drivers caught in unroadworthy vehicles

  • More than 10,000 drivers in Britain were caught driving unroadworthy vehicles in 2025, prompting a warning from the RAC that "far too many vehicles are unfit for the roads".
  • Despite a reduction of 3,055 cases from the previous year, the RAC expressed uncertainty, questioning if the decrease reflected better maintenance or fewer traffic officers.
  • Scotland recorded the highest number of drivers caught with unroadworthy vehicles in 2025 with 1,244, followed by London (1,182) and Yorkshire and the Humber (995).
  • Most cases of driving an unroadworthy vehicle result in three penalty points, which remain on a driver's licence for four years.
  • Separately, an investigation found over 4,000 drivers are still legally permitted to drive in Britain despite accumulating 12 or more speeding points, with one individual having 45 points.

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