Madrid – The Spanish government on Wednesday rewarded 21 million drivers who have not committed any driving offences since the introduction of a points-based driving licence three years ago.

The government said it would give two additional points to the 80 percent of drivers who had maintained a clean slate since the scheme was launched in July 2006, an Interior Ministry statement said.

Under the points-based system drivers start with 12 points from which deductions are made for any offences. As a result of the announcement, drivers with a clean licence will see their tally rise from 12 to 14 points.

According to the ministry, 81 percent of driving offences over the past three years had been committed by men, with those aged between 25 and 34 years the most frequent offenders.

The most common motoring offence was speeding (41 percent) followed by failing to wear a seat belt or safety helmet (14 percent), drunk driving (nine percent) and using a mobile phone while driving (eight percent.)

The points-based licence aimed to reduce the number of deaths on Spanish roads which has come down from 3,016 in 2006 to 2,181 in 2008.

AFP / Expatica