Motoring offences hit 10-year high
New government figures have revealed that prosecutions for motoring offences reached a 10-year high in 2025.
It found there were more than 812,000 prosecutions last year, which is five per cent up on 2024.
Insurance, speeding, registration and licence offences accounted for 65% of all motoring prosecutions, while prosecutions for dangerous driving increased by 34% year-on-year to a new high of 4,700.
The data also revealed that the number of drivers directly disqualified for motoring offences increased by 29% from 81,000 to 104,000, with a further 23,800 offenders disqualified by the penalty points system.
In total, 395,000 motorists received points on their licence without a disqualification, an increase of four per cent from the previous year.
Concerning statistics
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.”
