This legislation all too often penalises the more exprienced better drivers, as the more often you drive, and the more experienced you become, the more likely you are to be prosecuted for speeding. Age profiling by the police, unfairly makes safe younger drivers who narrowly exceed the limit by reasonable degrees, (just like the majority of motorists), a target.

Magistrates should have the authority to overule the administrative revocation where they deem it is reasonable to do so, or where they deem it unneccessary, or of no benefit to the driver or society.

Forcing perfectly competent drivers to retake their tests simply encourages contempt, and a lack of respect and credibility for the law, as many drivers will be forced to carry on driving illegaly until they can afford the £70+ and find the time to book and retake all sections of their test. Not enough consideration is given to the unintended consequences many laws like this when they are devised.

Alex Walker, Scarborough, UK

I would suggest the following action. When drivers come to the attention of the Court for an offence which carries a discretionary disqualification or additional penalty points, and that driver already has 6 penalty points on his/her licence; the Court could (a) depending on the severity of the offence, revoke that drivers licence, or
(b) suspend disqualification for a period of 6 months on condition that the driver undertakes and passes both the theory and practical driving tests BEFORE the expiry of the 6 month period.
If the driver passes the tests the disqualification may be further suspended for a further year before being cancelled.
If the driver fails to obtain certificates of competence within the 6 month period the period of disqualification applies.
I believe that when a driver acquires 6 penalty points they should be self examining their driving and indeed contacting a driving organisation such as the Institute of Advanced Motorists to have their driving assessed.

David Walker, Dyce, Aberdeen, UK

The writer from Cumbria is correct and the reversion to provisional status is an administrative procedure by the DVLA who are NOT on top of the situation. My son has just had 11 points on his "probationary" license (which, by the way does not say probationary anywhere on it!) and he knows only through hearsay that he should now be driving. The magistrate did not tell him (us, as I was there) and his license came back in the post with no letter or documentation to explain this law. I have searched the internet and on DVLA site for more information to clear up whether he is disqualified or not and there is nowhere that states the actual rule or the system or procedure for how and when he can start driving again. No wonder youngsters just go back to driving, nobody knows what the actual law is, or how it should be administered - yet another bureaucratic New Labour Party nightmare that was never thought through properly.

P Preston, Chester, UK