Speeding convictions hit eight year high
Tue, 30 May 2023
The number of drivers charged with speeding offences in England and Wales has reached an eight-year high but the average fine has dropped.
That's according to new analysis from Churchill Motor Insurance. In 2022, a total of 236,480 motorists were convicted in court for speeding offences, a 16% increase compared to 2021.
This figure represents the highest number of drivers convicted since at least 2014.
The analysis further reveals that out of the 319,025 motorists who appeared in court for speeding offences in 2022, 74% were convicted and fined.
The amount of the fine imposed depends on the speed limit at the location of the offence and the extent to which the driver exceeded that limit.
Typically, fines are calculated as a percentage of the driver's weekly income, with a maximum of £1000 (or £2500 for motorway speeding). The average fine for motoring offences decreased from £341 in 2021 to £326 in 2022.
In cases of speeding, the minimum penalty consists of a £100 fine and 3 penalty points added to the driver's licence.
If drivers choose to plead not guilty after receiving a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) for speeding, they must attend court. The overall rate of custodial sentences for motoring offences was only 1%, with an average sentence length of 8.3 months.
The research highlights that 74% of drivers convicted for speeding offences were men. Among the drivers convicted, over half (51%) fell into the age range of 30 to 50 years old, while 20% were between the ages of 18 and 29.
In terms of regional variations, Nottinghamshire experienced the largest year-on-year increase in speeding convictions, with a 131% rise. Gloucestershire and Leicestershire followed closely with increases of 100% and 92%, respectively.
On the other hand, Northumbria witnessed a significant decrease in convictions, with a 22% decline. London recorded the highest number of speeding convictions, with 39,107 cases in 2022.
"Speeding is one of the main causes of road accidents and our research suggests that the problem is getting worse. Many drivers accidentally creep above the limit rather than speeding deliberately," says Nicholas Mantel, Head of Churchill Motor Insurance.
|
Police Force Area |
2021 |
2022 |
Change |
|
Nottinghamshire |
4,089 |
9,444 |
131% |
|
Gloucestershire |
1,471 |
2,941 |
100% |
|
Leicestershire |
2,524 |
4,855 |
92% |
|
Derbyshire |
2,023 |
3,754 |
86% |
|
Avon and Somerset |
6,578 |
10,566 |
61% |
|
Cleveland |
594 |
890 |
50% |
|
Sussex |
4,903 |
7,327 |
49% |
|
Dorset |
1,241 |
1,849 |
49% |
|
Essex |
4,604 |
6,241 |
36% |
|
Durham |
1,782 |
2,354 |
32% |
|
Devon and Cornwall |
5,077 |
6,684 |
32% |
|
West Yorkshire |
12,480 |
15,849 |
27% |
|
North Wales |
3,906 |
4,934 |
26% |
|
Humberside |
3,746 |
4,584 |
22% |
|
North Yorkshire |
5,937 |
7,218 |
22% |
|
Gwent |
2,250 |
2,695 |
20% |
|
Northamptonshire |
2,134 |
2,544 |
19% |
|
Thames Valley |
5,895 |
6,942 |
18% |
|
London (Met Police) |
33,740 |
39,107 |
16% |
|
South Yorkshire |
2,072 |
2,399 |
16% |
|
Warwickshire |
683 |
781 |
14% |
|
Bedfordshire |
4,416 |
5,033 |
14% |
|
Wiltshire |
963 |
1,064 |
10% |
|
Lancashire |
7,805 |
8,480 |
9% |
|
South Wales |
8,462 |
9,072 |
7% |
|
Staffordshire |
4,594 |
4,913 |
7% |
|
Surrey |
1,684 |
1,769 |
5% |
|
Lincolnshire |
8,349 |
8,407 |
1% |
|
Cumbria |
1,747 |
1,740 |
0% |
|
Norfolk |
5,605 |
5,564 |
-1% |
|
Kent |
6,646 |
6,497 |
-2% |
|
Hertfordshire |
3,811 |
3,635 |
-5% |
|
Cheshire |
4,053 |
3,810 |
-6% |
|
Cambridgeshire |
3,585 |
3,261 |
-9% |
|
Hampshire |
3,244 |
2,930 |
-10% |
|
Suffolk |
4,929 |
4,430 |
-10% |
|
Merseyside |
7,333 |
6,541 |
-11% |
|
West Midlands |
3,565 |
2,966 |
-17% |
|
Dyfed-Powys |
2,862 |
2,342 |
-18% |
|
West Mercia |
3,150 |
2,576 |
-18% |
|
Greater Manchester |
5,572 |
4,391 |
-21% |
|
Northumbria |
3,441 |
2,690 |
-22% |
|
Unknown region |
|
411 |
|
|
TOTAL |
203,545 |
236,480 |
16% |
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