Motoring offences rise sharply across England and Wales

The latest data from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has revealed that prosecutions for motoring offences in England and Wales have reached a ten-year high.

Totalling 812,000 convictions in 2025, this marks a 5% increase from the previous year.

Speeding convictions in England and Wales rose by 28% between 2015 and 2025, while vehicle registration and tax convictions have increased by 201% between 2015 and 2025.

Further analysis of the MoJ data showed that prosecutions for dangerous driving in the two countries has also increased to a record high of 4,700. This marks a 34% growth from 2024.

Around 95% of motoring offences resulted in a fine, making it by far the most common outcome.

The average amount issued rose from £310 in 2024 to £327 in 2025, showing a modest increase in typical penalties.

Overall custody rate has remained at 1% for several years, and in 2025, the average custodial length was 10.8 months – a slight decrease from 11.4 months in 2024.

The number of offenders who were directly disqualified for motoring offences rose sharply in the latest year’s report, increasing by 29% from 81,000 in 2024 to 104,000 in 2025.

A further 23,800 drivers lost their licence through the penalty‑points system, which represents a 33% fall compared with the previous year.

In addition, 395,000 offenders received points on their licence without being disqualified, a 4% increase year‑on‑year.

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RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “These are concerning statistics, especially given the Government’s stated aim of reducing road deaths and serious casualties significantly by 2035.

“While an increase in convictions could be a sign of the court system working faster, it could also point to a degradation in driving standards that’s putting everyone on our roads at risk.

"Once again, it's speeding offences that are most regularly prosecuted, with a 28% increase in convictions over the last 10 years – evidence which underlines the need for the Government to seriously consider new ways of reducing offending in the first place.

“Technology, such as intervening intelligent speed assistance which can be used to stop repeat or excessive speeders from speeding again, could play a valuable role here.

“But the trebling of convictions related to vehicle registrations since 2015 – which includes people using or keeping untaxed vehicles – is also particularly worrying."