The variety of rushing offences recorded by police forces throughout England and Wales final 12 months hit an all-time excessive, based on new information launched by the Dwelling Workplace.
A complete of two,324,542 speed-limit breaches had been recorded throughout 2023 – a rise of 10% in contrast with the 12 months prior and the best since comparable data started in 2011.
Of those, 98% had been caught by a digicam.
The Dwelling Workplace mentioned that rushing elevated at a higher charge than the variety of automobiles on the highway between 2011 and 2023.
It added that rushing different seasonally, with the offence changing into extra frequent in the course of the summer season months. It peaked in June 2023, at 223,029 circumstances, in contrast with 159,179 breaches throughout December.
The info printed by the Dwelling Workplace excludes London, as a result of the Metropolitan Police drive answerable for the capital makes use of a distinct pc system to log offences.
The Met recorded 390,403 situations of rushing in 2023, a rise of three% in contrast with the 12 months prior, and practically triple that recorded earlier than the Covid pandemic.
The Dwelling Workplace named the discount of velocity limits throughout London as one among a number of causes of the numerous enhance in offences because the pandemic, though it uncared for to clarify any others.
Dashing accounted for 86% of the two,698,373 motoring offences that resulted in a hard and fast penalty discover being issued throughout England and Wales in 2023.
Greater than half (51%) these offences resulted in driver retraining – a velocity consciousness course, for instance – and 36% resulted in fines being paid. The remaining 13% resulted in courtroom motion.
“Drivers have to know that forces are making use of the legislation and unhealthy behaviour can be caught both in particular person or on digicam,” mentioned Jack Cousens, head of roads coverage for the AA.
Nonetheless, he added: “Whereas cameras and new expertise have an vital position to play in highway security, these stats clearly present that we’d like extra cops in automobiles to police the roads.”
