They might be helpful if you’re locked out of your house, but when it comes to sticking to the speed limit a new study suggests locksmiths aren’t quite as useful.
The data focussed on which occupations produce the most speeding offenders and it’s not good news for locksmiths – named the most likely to be caught going too fast.
Locksmiths have taken the dubious title from professional footballers, who were named the most likely to be caught speeding in 2017.
The survey also revealed that alarm fitters are the most likely to be caught using a handheld mobile phone while driving, while entertainers receive the most convictions for traffic signal offences.
Despite how uncommon the job might seem to many of us, the second most likely workers to be caught speeding in 2018 were oil rig workers.
READ MORE: Speeding fines — how much you now have to pay
Creative directors were the third most likely to speed, while last year’s worst offenders, professional footballers, racked up the seventh highest amount of convictions.
At the other end of the scale, the least likely to get caught driving over the speed limit is, perhaps unsurprisingly, insurance clerks.
The least likely profession to be found using a phone behind the wheel was lecturers, while operations managers were found the most unlikely to face a traffic signal conviction.
The Admiral study comes after the introduction of tougher penalties in April 2017 that fine drivers who speed excessively in line with their income.
SEE ALSO: Driving without due care and attention — our guide to staying safe
Motorists who drive at 51mph in a 30mph zone, or 101mph on a motorway now face financial penalties that start at 150% of their weekly income.
Speaking in 2017, RAC road safety spokesman Pete Williams supported the introduction of these tougher measures on those who speed excessively.
He said: “Hopefully, hitting these offenders harder in the pocket will make them think twice before doing it again in the future. But tougher penalties are only effective in changing behaviour or increasing compliance if drivers genuinely believe that they are likely to be caught and prosecuted for breaking the law.”
Copyright Press Association 2018. Motoring News articles do not reflect the RAC's views unless clearly stated.
You might also like

Speeding fines: how much you have to pay?
Find out how much your speeding fines will cost, how many penalty points you might get, and whether or not you'll get a driving ban, using our helpful guide.

Speed limits in the UK: know the laws
UK speed limits are generally 30mph in urban areas, 60mph on single-carriageways and 70mph on dual carriageways and motorways, but there are exceptions.

Driving without shoes - is it illegal?
There’s a great level of uncertainty surrounding whether or not it’s illegal to drive a vehicle barefoot in the UK. Learn more with RAC Drive today.

Mobile phone driving laws - what is and isn't illegal?
Following recent updates to the law, the RAC looks into the legal ramifications of using a mobile phone while driving on roads across the UK. Read more here.

What to do if you see an ambulance with its lights on
Road laws still apply in the event of encountering an emergency vehicle. So what should you do? Our guide gives you all you need to know.
Popular in News
1
Car buyers to save thousands as EV grant returns
2
Private parking companies issue a record 14.4m tickets to drivers in a single year
3
Drivers fined £1m from just 36 yellow box junctions in 2024
4
Road deaths on the rise in Great Britain
5
Private parking industry urged to publish ‘full and transparent’ complaints and appeals data
6
Drivers now able to search for new home that comes with EV chargers
7
Leicester’s Sean Kimberlin named as RAC Mobile Mechanic of the Year
8
Number of drivers caught using unroadworthy vehicles jumps by 52% in a year
9
Warning to drivers across the UK over fake parking apps
10