Spain rewards safe drivers with extra licence points
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By m.p. - Jul 1, 2009 - 7:52 PM
Almost 21 million people received a bonus two points on 1st July

Almost 21 million drivers woke up this Wednesday with 14 points on their driving licence - an extra two points credit as a reward from the government for driving safely. The points go to drivers who have not committed any serious or very serious offences since the points system came into force three years ago, and who obtained their licence at least 3 years before that date – in other words, before 1st July 2006.

1.8 million drivers who lost points after being sanctioned at least once do not receive the bonus points. This group represents 7% of Spain’s drivers and, of those, only 1% are re-offenders, who have been sanctioned on two or more occasions. It counts for almost 300,000 drivers. The Interior Ministry gives the main causes for losing points as speeding, not wearing a seat belt or a helmet, alcohol and using a hand-held mobile phone. Speeding counts for 41% of the sanctions.

Men represent 81% of those sanctioned, and the age group with the greatest number of offences is between 25 and 34. Those under the age of 24 make up three quarters of drivers who have lost points for not wearing a helmet.

Almost 50,000 drivers have lost all their points since the system came into force, which the Ministry puts at two out of every one thousand people who hold a Spanish driving licence.

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