Police confiscate more driving licences from drunk, reckless drivers

Police and justice ministry officials confiscated over 14,700 driving licences on the spot last year – an average of around 40 a day, the public prosecution department said on Friday.

Of those, 8,300 were confiscated from drunk drivers and 4,700 from people caught driving too fast. The figures, which are up 1,400 on 2015, do not include people caught speeding on camera, who fall under a different system.

If police confiscate a driving licence, it is sent to the public prosecution department where officials have 10 days to decide if it should be returned or if the issue should be taken to court.

One in four drivers who lose their licence are young and inexperienced – a rise of 500 on a year ago. A spokesman for the department told broadcaster NOS that further research is merited to find out why more newly-qualified drivers are breaking drink drive and other rules.

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