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A staggering 3.7 million* motorists ” 12% of the drivers on UK roads – would ask a relative or friend to take speed camera penalty points for them if they were facing a driving ban, a new nationwide poll by Ipsos MORI on behalf of Swinton has revealed. The poll, commissioned by leading high street insurance broker Swinton, also revealed that 13% of drivers would take points from a partner or relative to prevent them from being banned from driving. Drivers were asked the questions based on the assumption that they or their friends already had six points and were photographed by a speed camera positioned behind the vehicle so that the identity of the driver could not be confirmed. The figure for potential penalty point swapping rises to 20% among the under-24s. This falls to just 4% of over-55s who would consider asking someone to take their points and 8% of over-55s stating they would con hr consultants sider taking them on behalf of a friend or relative. However, the same poll revealed high levels of honesty among UK motorists towards another illegal act, with 93% of drivers saying they would not drive away from a minor accident such as clipping someones bumper while reversing. These contrasting figures reflect the attitude of some UK drivers that the trading of penalty points is a less serious offence than other motoring transgressions. Such figures indicate that some drivers view speed cameras as being positioned to inflict financial penalties, rather than actually deter motorists from speeding and breaking the law. The Swinton poll goes some way to confirming what up to now has been an urban myth that a black market could be emerging in the trading of speed camera penalty points. Nick Bowyer from Swinton said: This is potentially a serious problem which needs to be addressed.