Nick,
You get a driving ban if you commit a motoring offence and the punishment is there to enforce driving regulations and make you realise of the potential dangers it can have. However, if you have been good, then you are allowed to request your driving licence earlier than the expiry date of your ban (Section 42 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988). Think about it like a reward for being good. If you are on a 3 year driving ban, then you can request your licence to be returned after 2 years. It is however at the discretion of the court which sentenced you to remove the ban imposed on you. They will look at your criminal history and past motoring offences before making a decision and you will need to have a valid reason for them to consider giving you back your licence.
You can contact a motoring lawyer for more information on this if you like.
