Hundreds of children around the UK are getting driving bans every year before they’re even legally old enough to drive, according to new research.
An analysis from Churchill Car Insurance has found that an incredible 725 children under the age of 17 were disqualified last year, a five per cent increase on 2013 when 692 youngsters were banned.
Even between January and May this year alone, a total of 284 children have been disqualified by the courts, despite many being years too young to even hold a provisional driving licence.
In the past two and a half years, 1,701 child drivers were issued with bans, with 633 of those aged either 13 or 14. Incredibly, seven of the children banned were only 12 years old.
The report notes: “Children as young as 12 years old are being disqualified from driving by the courts, even though they cannot apply for a provisional driving licence for another five years.”
Churchill’s analysis also shows that hundreds of those underage drivers banned are multiple offenders, with 923 children under the age of 17 prosecuted more than once for repeat offences.
One child aged 16 has already been prosecuted a total of 15 times for driving offences, according to the stats, with 87 youngsters prosecuted for at least five and 15 convicted for 10 or more offences.
The problem, Churchill says, is that seeing as the bans are imposed before their 17th birthday, some of the young offenders are still able to apply for their licences when they eventually reach the legal driving age.
“Surprisingly, if children drive cars illegally on the road they may still be able to secure a driving licence when they turn 17, much like any other young driver,” the report says.
“Bans for underage drivers often start from the date of conviction and could therefore have expired by the time the offender reaches 17, though endorsements will still be listed on any licence issued.”
Steve Barrett, head of car insurance at Churchill Insurance, said: “It is shocking to see hundreds of children legally disqualified from driving at an age when they should never even be behind the wheel.
"We need harder hitting education schemes highlighting the risks and dangers of driving underage and uninsured.
“It doesn’t make sense that bans are served when children are not legally able to drive. The number of repeat offenders is proof in itself of how ineffective a deterrent this is. Bans should commence from the date an offender becomes 17.”