Penalty point endorsements for motorists caught operating dangerous vehicles soared by more than half last year, according to new research.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) issued 13,109 endorsements in 2024 to drivers of vehicles with mechanical defects, marking a 52 per cent rise from 8,614 cases recorded in 2023.

Motorists face three penalty points that remain on their driving records for four years when caught operating vehicles with faulty brakes, worn tyres, defective steering or other mechanical failures.

The dramatic increase represents 4,495 additional drivers penalised for endangering road users by failing to maintain their vehicles to legal standards.

The DVLA have issued penalty points to thousands of drivers because they have issues with their vehicles

Brake-related offences experienced the most dramatic surge, with 1,190 motorists penalised in 2024 compared to just 181 the previous year - representing a more than six-fold increase.

This sharp rise in brake defect cases raises particular concerns given the critical safety implications of faulty braking systems.

Tyre defects remained the most common reason for endorsements, affecting 8,945 motorists last year, a 44 per cent jump from 6,196 cases in 2023.

A further 2,974 drivers received points for various other mechanical failures, including steering defects, marking a 33 per cent rise from 2,237 cases the previous year.

Millions of motorists are risking driving with an unroadworthy car

The breadth of these violations suggests widespread neglect of basic vehicle maintenance across multiple safety-critical components, the RAC highlighted.

Nick Mullender, who leads the RAC's mobile servicing and repairs team, warned that these statistics likely represent merely "the tip of the iceberg" regarding unsafe vehicles currently operating on British roads.

He stressed that the data captures only those motorists who have been caught, whilst many more continue driving defective vehicles undetected.

The expert added: "By getting behind the wheel of vehicles that are defective, a minority of drivers are needlessly putting the law-abiding majority at serious risk."

He noted that with nearly 10 million MOT test failures annually, the true scale of mechanically unsound vehicles remains far greater than enforcement figures suggest.

Mullender emphasised that drivers bear legal responsibility for maintaining roadworthiness between scheduled services and MOT tests.

Motorists are being urged to address maintenance issues promptly through qualified mechanics or reputable garages to prevent avoidable collisions.

Chief Superintendent Marc Clothier from the National Roads Policing Operation for Intelligence and Investigations expressed alarm at the findings.

The RAC has a nationwide network of mobile mechanics | RAC

He said: "These figures are shocking and if you are driving an unroadworthy vehicle with defects such as tyres or brakes, you are not only putting yourself at risk, but you are putting the lives of other road users at risk too."

The senior officer emphasised that maintaining vehicle safety remains each driver's personal obligation.

"Ensuring your vehicle is roadworthy and safe to drive is your responsibility and we would encourage everyone to routinely check their vehicle before getting behind the wheel," Clothier added.

The East Midlands witnessed the steepest rise in unroadworthy vehicles, as endorsements jumped 87 per cent from 374 motorists in 2023 to 700 last year.

Only Mid Wales and South West Wales bucked the national trend, with modest decreases from 42 to 38 and 109 to 100 cases, respectively.