The Head of the Road Safety Authority has admitted that a legal loophole has let thousands of reckless drivers escape penalty points.

Motorists convicted in court of some serious road traffic offences are not having the points applied to their licence.

It’s because court clerks are not recording the drivers licence number and sending them to the RSA, as there is currently no legal requirement for the clerks to do this.

The RSA’s Noel Brett says they are now tackling the issue.

“It did happen on the RSA’s watch, and what has happened since the RSA was established are a number of things” he said.

“Mutual recognition is now in place; the new Road Traffic Bill has been published and does provide a requirement for the license to be produced in court and the data to be taken” he added.