Record Number of Speeding Tickets Issued and Mobile Phone Driving Fines Surge by One-Third
According to new crime statistics from the Home Office, a record number of motoring offences were committed in 2023, with fines for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving rising by a third.
Nearly 2.7 million motoring offences, excluding data from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), were recorded in 2023, marking an 11% increase compared to 2.4 million in the previous year, and the highest since records began in 2011.
More than 80% (86%) of these offences were for speeding, which reached 2.3 million, a 10% increase from 2.1 million the previous year. This marks the highest number of speeding offences recorded since 2011.
Speed Limit Offences
Since 2011, the number of speed limit violations has risen at a faster pace than road traffic in Great Britain. The only significant dip in speeding offences occurred in 2020, likely due to the pandemic.
In 2023, 868,743 speeding cases (32%) resulted in an endorsable fixed penalty notice (FPN), 107,336 cases (4%) resulted in non-endorsable FPNs, and 1,370,612 cases (51%) led to driver retraining courses. Court action was taken in 351,682 cases (13%).
Number of speed limit offences
Fixed Penalty Notices Issued
Between 2012 and 2013, the number of endorsable FPNs saw a sharp decline, followed by a rise in driver retraining. After a decrease in 2020, the figures have fluctuated in recent years, with a 9% rise in 2023 to 868,743.
The number of non-endorsable FPNs also rose by 10% in 2023, reaching 107,336.
A Rising Concern: Mobile Phone Use Behind the Wheel
One concerning trend revealed by the data is the significant increase in fines for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving, which rose by 33% to 36,842 fines in 2023. Offences related to neglecting traffic signs and pedestrian rights also saw a rise, increasing by 23% to 98,605.
Road Safety Concerns
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, expressed concern over the sharp rise in hand-held mobile phone usage while driving. He emphasized that while officers are targeting this offence, many drivers are still tempted to use their phones while behind the wheel.
The data also highlights a worrying increase in cases of careless driving, with fines for speeding reaching an all-time high.
Cousens suggested that although new technology and cameras play an important role in improving road safety, more police officers should be on the roads to directly address unsafe driving.
Increase in Roadside Breath Tests
The 2023 statistics also show a slight increase in roadside breath tests, up 3% to 276,914 tests in England and Wales. Despite this, 16% of these tests were positive or refused, a slight decrease from the previous year's 17%.
Drink-Driving
Despite the increase in breath tests, the statistics reveal that around 45,000 motorists tested positive or refused to take the test. Additionally, there were 300 deaths related to drink-driving in 2022, marking a 15% rise compared to the previous year.
Number of fixed penalty notices issued
Call for Stricter Drink-Driving Limits
In a related survey, 77% of drivers in Scotland support lowering the drink-drive limit in England and Wales to match Scotland’s lower threshold of 50mg of alcohol per 100mL of blood, which has been in place since December 2014. The change in Scotland led to a reduction in alcohol consumption while driving, with many drivers now opting for alternative transportation.
