Revealed: 113 children banned from driving in five years across West Midlands
More than 100 children across the West Midlands have been banned from driving since 2014 - despite not being old enough to have a licence.
Figures from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) show that 113 children under the age of 17 were banned since 2014, with 39 of those disqualifications handed to children under the age of 15.
The figures have risen from just one child receiving a ban in the area in 2014 to 32 in 2018, according to a Freedom of Information response.
Across the Wolverhampton area 23 children received driving bans, across Sandwell 38 people were banned, in parts of Shropshire it was 18 and in Walsall it was 31.
The data also showed in Telford & Wrekin three young people were banned.
Under UK law, courts can impose driving bans on those who are legally too young to drive. Once they have turned 17 and their disqualification period ends, they will be able to drive again.
Penalty points would still be listed on any licence issued and could lead to an increased ban if another offence is committed.
Nationally, the numbers of banned children rose from just 55 children in 2014 to 782 in 2018.
The figures were revealed after a Liberal Democrat FoI request.
Lib Dem campaigner Ian Jenkins said: “These offences present such a danger to every other road user, because they're not only driving without a licence, they don't have insurance.
"No doubt this is the tip of the iceberg because they have to be caught breaking the law and inevitably many will be getting away scot-free.
“It also seems very wrong that children caught committing this offence can serve their bans while they are legally not allow to drive, leaving them free to start learning to drive once they turn 17.”
