Speeding drives huge surge in driver penalty points
UK drivers received 9.61 million points on their licences in 2024, the latest figures have revealed, representing a 12% increase from 2023...
A 12% increase in the number of penalty points dished out to drivers last year has been attributed to a rising number of drivers being caught by speed cameras.
According to figures obtained by Co-op Insurance from the DVLA, 9.61 million penalty points were handed to UK drivers last year, compared with 8.55 million in 2023.
Most of these penalty points came as a result of drivers speeding on public roads and motorways, followed by driving an uninsured vehicle.
The minimum offence for being caught speeding is either a £100 fine and three points on your licence, or the opportunity to complete a speed awareness course if you have not attended one in the past three years.
More serious offences where drivers have exceeded the speed limit by an excessive amount can result in three to six penalty points on their licence, a larger fine and possibly even a court appearance or driving ban, depending on the circumstances.
AA President Edmund King described the rise in penalty points being issued as “worrying”.
“The increase is due to the boom in speed camera offences, and the fact that a higher proportion of repeat offenders have already been on a speed awareness course in the last three years, so can’t avoid points by going on another course,” he said.
According to figures from the Home Office, 96% of the 2.71 million drivers caught speeding in England and Wales in 2023 were detected by speed cameras. This is compared with 89% of 1.49 million drivers in 2011.
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request by Co-op Insurance revealed that points were issued to drivers in the southwest at a higher rate than anywhere else in Britain last year, at 51.0 points per 1000 people. The smallest rate was in London, at 35.2, while Scotland followed with 35.3.
Paul Evans, head of motor at Co-op Insurance, said, “Accumulating points for both speeding and driving without insurance can lead to higher premiums, and even disqualification from driving, due to insurers deeming drivers to be a greater risk should they receive 12 or more points on their licence.”
As a result, Co-op Insurance is urging drivers to drive safely and make sure they’re covered by car insurance “so that they can avoid penalties, save money and reduce the risk of accidents whilst on the roads.”
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