Speeding offences double on Leicestershire roads in a year

The number of prosecutions against drivers in the county jumped by 92 per cent from 2,524 in 2021 to 4,855 in 2022, the third highest rise of any area in England and Wales.

Data released by the government and analysed by Churchill Motor Insurance revealed Nottinghamshire had the biggest increase at 131 per cent more – from 4,089 to 9,444 – with Gloucestershire second at 100 per cent more – from 1,471 to 2,941.

Jonathan Clarkson, spokesperson for the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership – which includes Leicestershire Police, Leicestershire County Council and Leicester City Council – has called on county drivers to make sure they always drive at safe speeds.

The difference between a few miles per hour can be the difference between life and death, he said.

He said: “Since the first lockdown in 2020, we began to see a rise in speeding offences and this has increased as local traffic volumes returned to pre-pandemic levels.

"The Road Safety Unit at Leicestershire Police is constantly dealing with very high volumes of speeding offences.

“However, whether it be via our fleet of speed camera vans, our fixed roadside speed cameras, the enforcement efforts of local police officers and regular FATAL4 operations, we are committed to reacting to community concerns about excessive speeds and keeping the roads of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland safe for everyone.

“The difference between a few miles per hour can be the difference between life and death. A speed limit is not a target; you should always drive at a speed suited to the weather conditions and type of road, but not in excess of the advised speed limit. Make sure you drive at a safe speed at all times.”

Nationally, the number of drivers convicted for speeding has reached an eight-year high, the figures show. Some 236,480 motorists were successfully prosecuted for exceeding the speed limit in England and Wales in 2022.

That represented a 16 per cent rise on the total in 2021 (203,545) and was the highest in records dating back to 2014.

The RAC said the figures indicate there has been a rise in serious speeding cases. The analysis found that nearly three out of four people taken to court for speeding were convicted.

Most people caught speeding are handed a £100 fine and either penalty points or offered to participate in a retraining course. But cases involving serious incidents or motorists denying exceeding the limit often end up in court, where fines can reach a maximum of £2,500 for speeding on a motorway.

Nicholas Mantel, head of Churchill Motor Insurance, said: “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.

“While most people receive a fixed penalty notice for speeding, more serious or contested cases end up in court. This data shows that drivers who appear in court for speeding are usually convicted, and the fines are deservedly steep.”