A shocking new report has found that children as young as 10 have been caught speeding on UK roads, with Labour now being urged to act.
It comes after figures highlighted growing concerns over underage driving, with young Britons now facing serious legal, financial, and safety consequences.
Since the start of 2021, the report found that 183 juveniles under the age of 17 have been prosecuted for exceeding speed limits, including eight children aged 14 and under.
Worryingly, the youngest offenders recorded were just 10 years old, with one caught in 2021 and another in 2023.
The legal age to drive a car is 17, although experts explained that drivers just shy of 16 can apply for a provisional licence.
Meanwhile, 16-year-olds can be permitted to ride mopeds, and certain mobility patients may drive cars of the same age. Despite this, the data showed that some children have been taking public roads well before they are legally allowed to drive.
The breakdown of under-17 offenders revealed that two children were 10 years old, two were 12, one was 13, two were 14, nine were 15, and 166 were 16.
These offences resulted in "endorsements" on driver records, which remain for four years, and in many cases, can lead to court fines and driving disqualifications once the young offenders reach the legal driving age.
The report found hundreds of underage drivers behind the wheel on UK roads
| GETTYGraham Conway, managing director of Select Car Leasing, which submitted the Freedom of Information request to the DVLA, warned of the dangers these children pose.
He said: "These youngsters aren't just bending the rules - they're ripping up the Highway Code. Driving without a licence or insurance, and with no real-world experience behind the wheel, makes them a danger to themselves and everyone else on the road.
"And remember, these figures only cover the ones who've been caught. The true number of underage drivers could be far higher, quietly taking the same reckless risks without facing any consequences yet."
But the DVLA confirmed that non-licence holders who are prosecuted are treated in the same way as full licence holders.
E-bike riders can face prosecution in the same way as drivers for failing to follow traffic rules
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A DVLA spokesperson said: "Non-licence holders disqualified by the court are recorded on DVLA's driver database in the same way as full licence holders.
"The offence is noted on their record, and once the disqualification period has expired, the individual may apply for a driving licence. Any licence issued will show details of previous endorsements."
Penalties for underage driving can be severe, with offenders facing fines, points on a future licence, and court-imposed disqualifications.
Drivers can face hefty penalties for speeding, with penalties of at least £100 and three penalty points added to their driving licence. However, this could increase to as much as £2,500, depending on what the speed limit was and how much over it the driver was travelling, as well as whether the offence occurred on the motorway.
Drivers can be fined £100 for speeding on UK roads | PAHowever, the DVLA data does not specify the type of vehicles involved in the speeding offences. Experts explained that some children may have been driving cars, while others could have been riding e-scooters or illegally modified e-bikes.
Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, e-scooters are classed as motor vehicles and must be insured, taxed, registered, and ridden with the appropriate licence. Most privately owned e-scooters do not meet these requirements, making them illegal on public roads.
Similarly, e-bikes that exceed the legal speed limit of 15.5mph are treated as mopeds or motorcycles and require registration, tax, insurance, and a licence.
Mr Conway added: "It's illegal to ride private e-scooters in public, and speeding on them or on modified e-bikes carries serious risks. Collisions can result in major injuries or worse, yet some children are still taking these risks without understanding the consequences. Parents and guardians need to be aware of the legal and financial implications.
"These offences do not just disappear - they remain on records, affect insurance, and can lead to hefty fines or court action."