Q Is it true that since October .1 last, a driver
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who has been convicted of an endorsable offence three times in four years (not three as previously) will be automatically disqualified under the totting up procedure?
A No, the statement is not correct; the totting up period remains three years, but the period for having an endorsement removed is now four years.
Some drivers were applying for the removal of endorsements after three years though they were being • prosecuted for further offences and were awaiting their case being dealt with in the courts. Thus, they were able to produce a licence which bore no record of the first conviction when they appeared in court and in that way they escaped disqualification.
To eliminate any possibility of a driver escaping the consequences of his wrongdoing, Schedule 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1974 has amended Section 101 (7) of the Road Traffic Act 1972 in such a way that four years must elapse from the date of conviction before an endorsement can be removed. Endorsements that previously remained for 10 years such as drunken driving now remain for 11 years.
Section 93 of the Road Traffic Act 1972 which stipulates disqualification for three endorsable offences in three years has remained unchanged.