With up to 12 million UK motorists receiving a fixed penalty notice every year, a new study carried out by independent registration company Regtransfers shows which areas of the UK fixed penalty notices are being issued the most and why.
The eye-opening results, taken from official government data sources, cover offences from speeding to failing to stop at a red light and shows just where we can find our nation’s worst drivers.
Crime hotspots
The study covers 2.7 million police-issued penalties in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland throughout the tax year of 2016-2017, with the data showing the number of driving offences per 10,000 drivers registered within each police force division. The combined data from City of London Police and Metropolitan Police forces show results for London as a whole. Despite Scotland using several, local police forces recorded data present as one police area.
The figures, compiled by Regtransfers, highlight the locations with the highest number of offenders caught and punished for seven of the major driving offences.
These offences are:
- Careless driving
- Insurance and licence offences
- Not wearing a seatbelt
- Parking offences
- Running lights and ignoring road signs
- Speeding
- Using mobile phones at the wheel
Avon and Somerset take the lead for the worst driving, with 197,692 fixed penalty notices issued overall. That’s 1,785 driving offences for every 10,000 drivers over the twelve-month period.
The ten worst areas for all driving offences per 10,000 drivers are:
- Avon and Somerset: 1,785
- Cumbria: 1,455
- Warwickshire: 1,410
- Norfolk: 1,388
- Bedfordshire: 1,385
- Northamptonshire: 1,231
- Humberside: 1,148
- Lincolnshire: 1,124
- West Yorkshire: 1,120
- Merseyside: 1,107
Whether this means that the police in these areas are particularly vigilant or the people driving in these areas are more willing to take risks while driving is unknown, but the stats do prove a point that in certain areas of the country there are more fines than others, even if the population size is similar.
Drivers fined every two-and-a-half seconds
In 2017 the RAC Foundation found that drivers receive a fixed penalty notice every two-and-a-half seconds, meaning around 13,000 motorists get fined each day. In a year it is estimated that one-third of the 40 million drivers on our roads will receive a fixed penalty notice for something.
The introduction of fixed penalty notices (FPN) for careless driving offences came into force in August 2013. The concept of having a fixed penalty notice is not a new one as FPNs have been used for minor parking offences since 1950 in Great Britain. In more recent years FPNs have been used for other driving offences such as careless driving, ignoring road markings and others as dictated by the Road Traffic Act.
Driving offences
Careless driving offences include driving under the influence of drink or drugs, middle lane hogging, overtaking dangerously, and tailgating. Scotland came out worst in this category with 11,890 fixed penalty notices issued for careless driving last year, equalling to 36 fixed penalty notices per 10,000 drivers.
With 45,940 fixed penalty notices issued for offences such as driving with a provisional licence without a supervisor and L-plates, driving while underage, driving without at least third party insurance, or driving without a licence at all, Scotland also scored highest for fixed penalty notices here with 139 FPNs per 10,000 drivers.
Drivers in Essex held the place for highest number of seatbelt offences, resulting in 47 fixed penalty notices per 10,000 drivers (or 5,819 issued for the year). Offences cover not only failing to wear a seatbelt while driving but for failing to have the correct child restraints for children under the age of 14.
Gwent motorists are more likely to receive a fixed penalty notice for parking offences, including parking in a prohibited spot, parking in a resident bay without a permit, parking in a pay-and-display area without a valid ticket, and parking on double yellow lines. Drivers in Gwent received 6,500 penalty notices between 2016 – 2017 or 178 fixed penalty notices for every 10,000 drivers.
As this data is only for fixed penalty notices issued by the police, expect figures to be much higher when including parking penalty notices issued by local councils and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
Fines not deterring people
The greatest number of fixed penalty notices issued for running red lights and ignoring road signs or markings occurred in Leicester with 8,675 fixed penalty notices issued. This works out at 131 for every 10,000 drivers. Offences included in this category are failing to follow traffic signs, or with the direction of a traffic warden, and driving anywhere else but on the road.
With the most common driving offence throughout the entire UK being speeding, the worst offenders are Avon and Somerset motorists, clocking up 184,65 speeding tickets in last year. Whether from exceeding the statutory speed limit on public roads or motorways, these motorists are being caught and punished for 1,657 offences per 10,000 drivers.
The smallest penalty for speeding you can expect is a £100 fine and three penalty points added to your licence. You could receive a driving ban if you receive 12 or more penalty points within a three-year period. With 62% of motorists admitting to speeding in 2017, it seems that the heavy fines in place are still not deterring people.
Drivers most guilty of using their handheld devices while in charge of a vehicle are those in London, with 25,872 penalty notices given to drivers over the twelve months period. Averaging at 52 offences per 10,000 drivers, the offences cover making or receiving a call while behind the wheel (using hands-free devices is still legal) or for any use of a mobile phone while the engine is running, even when stationary.
Severe penalties and tough fines
The punishment for receiving a fixed penalty notice depends on the seriousness of the offence. If you’re issued one, you may receive a fine or a fine and points on your licence. Fines paid within 28 days won’t result in any further action and in some FPN cases, you can receive a discount by paying within 14 days of receiving the notice.
If you dispute the offence, you must go to court where if found guilty, you’ll receive a heavier fine than if you had taken the original fixed penalty notice.
While many motorists will argue that even the most careful drivers get caught out in a driving offence in their lifetime, drivers can avoid the more obvious offences such as using a mobile phone while driving.
In March 2017 the law changed, doubling the penalty for motorists caught using a mobile phone while driving, with drivers now expect to receive six points on their licence and a £200 fine. The reduced number of fixed penalty notices issued for mobile phone use being due to the new legislation is up for debate.
How does your area’s driving behaviour compare? Have you ever received a fixed penalty notice and if so, did you think it was fair? What changes would you make to the current laws? Let us know in the comments below.
Each day, I see scores of drivers, especially van driver using their phones….there is no one about to stop them……
BMW drivers think its cool to be on the phone whilst driving.
Yeah, cos all offences are committed by BMW drivers
Well, that’s until they attend the ‘How not to drive like a plonker’ course which is run by BMW for all their new customers. You must appreciate that the desire to own a BMW is directly proportional to one’s immaturity.
Twats like you make me chucle
No. Usually proportional to appreciation of BMW handling, power, and economy (dependent on model).
Audi runs a similar course, teaches you to just drive as if an apocalypse has taken everyone out and their the only ones left driving along that road. F everyone else I think is the course motto!
Presumably nobody here knows the bad news; BMW has put cars on the road with serious faults and failed to recall them. In some ways this is worse than VW diesel cheating. But everyone thinks made in Germany has to be good.
That’s not fair – Audi drivers are slightly worse.
Pretty much, and Audi’s
Don’t be silly most BMW’s have Bluetooth. I’d say some one needs glasses or is just envious.
BMW’s may have Bluetooth, we just need to teach their drivers how to use it! The same applies to Landrover Disco drivers; although they did buy the road when they bought the car.
In my experience, yes.
that is because you only look at beemers
Envy?
Very surprised that Birmingham is not included . Here it appears that red traffic lights are optional !! Parking on corners and blocking pavements is common place. Wish someone would put a camera on traffic lights also turning into a no entry is common place. Rant over
Perhaps if the police weren’t stuck on computers trawling social media for people the government dont like and actually get on the streets and do the job their paid to do things would be different.
We have no police, the chief constable retired all the experienced ones. As a result, gun and knife crime takes precedent, as the thugs know that whilst the cats away, the rats will play. No speed cameras either, they have been turned off. I dont know what the police do in your area, but in Birmingham, they are all under stress and it is showing,
EVERY GOVERNMENT WHEN ELECTED GIVE THEMSELVES A PAY RISE, AND THEN UNDER CUT THE BUDGET FOR THE COUNCILS EVERY YEAR, AND CHARGE US MORE FOR RATES VIA THE COUNCIL TAX…THEN WASTE IT. WHOEVER they ARE SHOULD HAVE A KICK UP THE A**E.
Lead swinging in a politacal way comes to mind
Dumb insolensce comes to mind!
Leaderlaess mis-management comes to mind!
Don’t forget to learn to spell next time you are doing NOTHING.
Yea nice move
Police coverage is so sparse now, due to cuts in budget and manpower, it can be likened to an elephant trying to wipe its bum with a postage stamp! Peter’s comment
would be relevant if the police were idle, which is not the case. I know this from first hand experience. Sadly, Police chiefs will not stand up to the Government and tell them that enough is enough. Policing is on its way ‘down the pan.’
Dave… not seen a beat bobby in 2 years… all busy driving around with blue lights going to the next station for a cup of tea mate
Seen ’em in Tesco buying the milk and sugar pal
Also, in big numbers with many cars at really minor events that block traffic for hours
Just as seen on umurican tv
Sorry Dave! Elephants don’t wipe their bums
And, a lot of dirty gits who get in my taxi don’t either
Birmingham might come under Warwickshire’s figures ?
Just need to get the police to start working there
Police working might help you know
I see many driver especially van drivers and drivers of Top End cars on the phone. They think they can “Get Away “ with it as you see so few Road Policing Vehicle On patrol these days . The public need to report more offences themselves. In Sussex we have Operation Crackdown website for this purpose.
This turns the country into a band of vigilantes. What about the potholes, fuel prices and the receiving a £535 road tax demand through the door. Unacceptable. I’m urging a road tax strike until we have roads we can actually drive on. Until then, no more income from motorists. Hang the Tories.
Sorry Ray but you are misled, it is not a tax for using the road. The money goes into the general tax pot and then a certain amount is hypothecated annually, or so, for the maintenance and construction of the highways. Also many roads are the responsibility of the local authority.
You do know that there is no such thing as road tax don’t you? No? I’ll tell you then. There is no such thing as road tax.
There has not been a Road Tax for years, it is now called Excise Duty; the reason for this change was so that the government could use the tax paid by road users for any purpose and not just for the upkeep of roads and infrastructure.
Now you know why the roads are in such a state!
I bet you were the driver doing 40mph in the 50 limit with a string of 5 cars behind on a straight road , so when I passed on a motorcycle you reported me said I was speeding go play policeman somewhere else you road hog
Bob… was he able to prove it mate?
Did you get done pal?
Your report should be titled “UK locations with the best law enforcement” as those areas with no traffic wardens and police who cannot spend their time issuing traffic tickets will not be listed.
In Bexhill-on-Sea all road markings are ignored by most car users, drivers is too good a word for them, as there are no traffic wardens they stop anywhere. If there is no room by the kerb as cars are parked all day in 2 hour parking areas they will stop in the middle of the road to pop into a shop or bank.
An awfully lot of traffic goes through Avon and Somerset on the M5 or A38 so is it really the people who live there or others that get caught for speeding
Don’t know about Avon and Somerset, but having driven for 64 years both professionally and privately in most parts of the U.K and Eurpe, I have long maintained that the driving standards in Bristol are among the worst. Has been that way since long before all police traffic control was eliminated, and deteriorated even more since then.
Its a Bristol thingy… just like doing the Arc de Triomphe then!
A303 too.
I see a lot of drivers jumping red lights, never a police about when needed, mobile phone users, especially with there heads down texting, it’s obvious what they are doing, again, no police about, cyclists riding two abreast is dangerous, and drivers not using bus lanes when they are open to all vehicles, they don’t read the bus lane signs.
Cyclists are entitled to ride two abreast and I don’t see why that is dangerous.
Come and look at the flowers/memorials on the side of the road in Staffordshire where i live , no matter who’s fault it is cycling these days is DANGEROUS
They may be allowed to run two abreast but, I know this is hard, but COMMON SENSE, not bloody mindedness should prevail. Rule of the road, slow moving traffic pull in to let others by, has been a rule for many years.
It’s not mandatory, (as it states “should” not “must”), but included in Rule 66 of the Highway Code is – “Never ride more than 2 abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends”. Cyclists would get more respect if they actually respected the single file encouragement, which is customarily honoured in the negative rather than the positive. It certainly isn’t honoured positively on the narrow lanes in this part of SE Staffordshire, popular with myopic intense cyclists who travel in posses, as if they are the only users of the road.
Kindly remember that if they are not under dressed they are dresssd for the Tour de France and that makes them feel good and superior… if not even orgasmic to some degree
Police motorcycle training school ride 3 abreast and in 3 ranks in hampshire
That means they are car then!
Mike, I had the pleasure of seeing a driver go through a red light at a cross-road junction in Wednesfield, and a Police car on the right shot out after him, I saw the two of them as I passed them on the Lichfield Rd., I was glad he had not got away with it, he could have killed someone, or given them life changing injuries.
Lincolnshire has traffic wardens and a high migrant population who are from less restricted countries could be the reason why its higher up the list
I lived in Lincolnshire for 9 years and it’s definitely the worst county I’ve ever driven in, and it’s not down to the migrants. Overtaking on bends and blind summits was a common occurrence as was being colour blind at traffic lights. It was amazing how often I drove out of the county to encounter very few problems but as soon as I crossed the county boundary back into Lincolnshire an idiot appeared on the horizon or in my rear view mirror !
Shock. Horror!!!
Somebody appeared on the horizon!! (maybe they were coming in the opposite direction?)
Somebody appeared in your rear view mirror!! (maybe you were driving below the speed limit?)
Glasgow to York, number of police road policing vehicles last Saturday = ZERO. Speeding vehicles, especially in A1M = lots. Figures obtained are flawed as no enforcement shows a false figure
Are you sure there were no police cars? North Yorkshire police use unmarked cars.
That’s as maybe but there are either no speed cams or very few.
No point in discussing the issue as nothing/no one will beat the system.
I think the Thames Valley police area should be among these figures. However we seem to never see a traffic car unless it’s on it’s way to an accident. As for staying in the nearside lane unless overtaking, forget it. Recently on the M4 in Berkshire, I counted 11 cars all driving like lunatics in lane three, whilst lane 2 was empty and, with very little gap between them.
I would add Ilford to the list of worst drivers in the country.
We take our lives in our hands when we go there and I often wonder if the majority of them have passed the UK Driving Test!
I am so stressed by the time I get home that I know my blood pressure has raised sky high which is unhealthy!
They obviously buy cars with no indicators, have little clue when traversing a roundabout and pull out in front of cars as they please!
Disgraceful!
Phone impounded and destroyed on the spot would be even more effective.
@Thomas yeh that’s a good one and I agree
Just read this article and bang I get a speeding ticket through the post from guess where Avon and Somerset! Then I see this link and this area must have the most speed cameras in the UK hence the most fines
https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/mobile-speed-camera-locations-somerset-1514196
The WebSite you listed is a total waste of time and money. Why not a WebSite showing the where the 20,30,40,50 and 60mph signs are located. Makes more seance to me.
I never look for Speed Cameras, I just know where the Speed Restriction Signs are located… Doesn’t everybody do that? No? Why not?
I received a fine through the post though I knew I couldn’t possibly have been speeding. I had stopped at traffic signals about 200 m before and I certainly couldn’t have reached 40 mph in that distance even if I was accelerating as hard as possible. I noticed the speed trap as I passed and checked my speed as a mere 32 mph. That was on the Portway from Avonmouth to Bristol.
Strange how the last time I was caught speeding was 1984 in Avon and Somerset area. I’m now 73 and simply look out for speed restriction signs. My SatNav is a great help for warning of speed limits. Hope they add the 20mph ones soon.
Wesy Yorkshire there’s a speed camera round every corner and then mobile vans hiding just as you come into limits. All out for one thing, money, money, money!
And now the smart motorway they have the cameras on when there are no extra restrictions despite them saying several months ago that they wouldn’t do that.
If it was genuinely about safety they would have huge signs up and use average speed cameras all the time but we all know it’s not!
If it was about safety the onus would be on education, not on fines
Traffic slows down when it gets into this smart motorway even when everything is ‘turned off’. Interesting to know why the drivers slow down.
Tony – yes, and everyone sits in whatever lane they were in before the variable limit, for the duration. Often slowing down for the camera and then speeding up again. Drives me mad.
The forest of yellow cameras on the A65 makes me smile. If anyone can get up to even near the speed limit on that road between Leeds city centre and The Fox at Menston, other than at 3am, they deserve a medal.
Living in West Somerset as I do, might I point out that with our narrow lanes and agricultural vehicles requiring patience and numerous occasions of driving backwards to passing places, Driving is mostly of very high quality with consideration of all road users. But there are always going to be incidents, and there are many visitors too. The M5 is not a friendly place and is a main route to Further West .
The reason why the West Midlands is not mentioned is because we have a much reduced police force who are struggling to cope with knife and gun crime, and have left the motorist alone. As a result, we have few traffic officers away from the motorways, and the drivers have become aggressive, stupid, break the law every minute, speed at dangerous levels and are a total danger to others. This all done whilst a mobile is glued to the ears. They have also turned off the cameras, with only a few average speed cameras being installed. Putting it blunt, the school run is manic, the amount of uninsured drivers is frightening, and many old vans used for scrap collection have declared SORN but are on the road daily. No wonder my insurance premium is so high.
My big headed older brother banned for two on a motorcycle while a L driver,
Three years, now this offence carries only a fixed fine and points but you clock up the points before you get the ban from driving.
Great progress since the 60’s no magistate no court costs but swift money in the bank for DoT and home office
What a shame the fines are not used to repair the roads
For salary increase, pension and bonus
Why you don’t understand?
Surprised at: “Despite Scotland using several, local police forces recorded data present as one police area” in the piece! Police Scotland, the police force for all of Scotland, was founded on 01/04/13.
Scotland was taken as singular police area for the purposes of this analysis, despite having local police forces. – Regtransfers
This DOESN’T show where bad drivers are…. it ONLY SHOWS where the police charge them… that’s a world of difference apart.
I live on the boundary of 3 county police forces and the greatest amount of motorway in the uk…….
one of these forces does speeding as close as 2% too fast… one does ALL parking on a pavement….. one does all lane hogging
note I said “one” because none of them prioritise the same things
I don’t mind rules… give me a rule and I can live within it or take my chances knowing the risk……. I admit to rarely being inside the speed limit, I still remember when the white sign with a diagonal black line meant NO speed limit.. do what you want…. now its often 60mph
What really annoys me is policing by campaign only…… especially phones… one week they ignore you then one week they knick everybody because its a campaign…… if you have a rule, enforce it consistently.
As for FINES…. my last one was £80, not a lot these days……. in the 60s 70s I was fined and endorsed £45 for 34 in a 30 zone… that was 1 1/2 times my weekly wage.. and I was considered to be well paid at the time…….. 1 1/2 times your wage had an impact.. £80 did not.. I must admit that neither fine or endorsement (3points today) changed my driving.
If you regularly flout the speed limit you are a danger to others and an idiot.
You were well paid at the time? Do you think it was fair/unfair that Ant (as in Dec and Ant) was fined £86,000?
Perhaps you should voluntarily top up that recent £80 fine?
Fair – proportionate to earnings.
You need you lecense revoked by confession mate
I believe the drop in driving standards appears to be because for the last 40 odd years drivers have been taught to pass a driving test and not taught how to drive properly; they then just forget about learning and improving their driving skills because they have ‘passed the test’!
We are also suffering from a shortage of Police patrol cars on the road (and beat police in towns and cities). These are what are needed to sort our the bad drivers as Speed Cameras (money generators) do not catch drivers under the influence of drink or drugs, drivers using hand-held mobile phones, uninsured or under age drivers.
I passed my driving test in 1978. As far as I know, anybody who passed their driving test before this had things easier and easier because there was less and less traffic to cope with.
My Grandad didn’t even have to pass a test. He merely applied for a driving licence
“for the last 40 odd years drivers have been taught to pass a driving test and not taught how to drive properly”.
Can you please clarify how passing a driving test does not equate to driving properly?
“they then just forget about learning and improving their driving skills because they have ‘passed the test’!”
Oh I see. You passed your test and only got better. Anybody who passed their test after you only got worse?
I don’t hold with the idea of “there was less traffic then”. Back in the 70s when I passed my test people said that there was more traffic than when they learnt to drive. As a pedestrian before driving you get used to the volume of traffic as it’s what you grew up with.
True, every day there is more cars on the road
It;s the job of the driving school instructor to teach the student to drive. That is why it is necessary to use them when learning to drive. Not the test instructors
I well remember my Army driver training. We were taught to self assess our driving and to correct any bad habits which may have arisen. As a result, I still do what I was taught some 47 years on.
Failure to enforce the law distorts these figures and with police numbers down, many drivers are not reported for “small” offences. Those who “escape” prosecution escalate their illegal activities and driving chaos ensues. the law is for EVERYONE to follow. lack of enforcement means transport mayhem.
“Despite Scotland using several, local police forces recorded data present as one police area.”
Police Scotland was formed five years ago – this suggests that this survey is at least five years old .
it says tax year 2016/17
Purley in Surrey on the a23 is terrible for aggressive driving .
This could quite easily be because of the lack of road policing in London and outer London. Never see a police car unless it’s speeding with blue lights flashing after some misdeed or the other. No traffic cops whatsoever!! Driving is generally poor, apart from in the rush hour, when standards are much higher. The rest of the country spend much more time policing thier roads, presumably because they have more time spare than the Met. Who knows!!
Take their fat BMW’s and Audi’s off them and crush them
Obviously you drive a Ford. !
Or a bicycle
you can’t even spell BMW
Most Audis and BMWs have bluetooth hands-free for phones these days. The offenders are far more likely to be driving cheap cars.
…i think you’ll find the biggest a**e klingons on the road are Audi and BMW drivers… I’m convinced its an ego thing! not to mention that its just expensive c**p..
This is why I made a sign for the back of my motorhome. “If you can read this sign then you’re up my a**e. Would you like some vaseline?” I get sick and fed up of them being so close I can’t see their number. The vase majority of them are Beamers and Audis. If and when I safely can, I’ll pull over and wave them past. Snag is a lot of them don’t understand hand signals or possibly they’re that close they can’t see my hand.
Janet Dodd… they don’t need signals… you are supposed to know
Well it’s usually the middle aged balding men or a blonde wag, probably in a “management” role of some sorts. Maybe the kids are in the back with iPads each. Just too good for anyone elses journey getting in the way. Why go 70 max, when you can cruise at 90. It’s just so important to get to that next place 5 minutes quicker. Just crucial that they do. Sunglasses compulsory.
Good point, the wife’s Audi does the texting/phoning for you through the in car system. Makes me wonder if some people are just too stupid, arrogant or both that they think it acceptable to use a hand held device whilst driving. The offence is as dangerous as drink/drug driving and should carry the same penalties.
I fully agree with letting the car do your phoning for you…but you’ve obviously never heard a Scottish person trying to direct anything voice controlled to ANYTHING!
Automated things just don’t understand us Scots…I’ve seen myself – more often than not – having to put on an English or American accent to get a response other than “Sorry I didn’t understand that. Please try again later.” or something to that effect…it’s INFURIATING!
Nobody ever understood you anyhow Jimmy
Accent notwithstanding of course
Audi’s & BMW’s may have Bluetooth, we just need to teach their drivers how to use it! The same applies to Landrover Disco drivers; although they did buy the road when they bought the car.
Yes please! The car in front might be a Toyota but the twonk tailgating is an audi.
All driving bans should automatically come with a suspended prison sentence of the same length. Caught driving whilst banned- straight to prison for the whole of the suspended time even if it’s the last day. Banned three times then it’s a ban for life. Kill by dangerous driving- banned for life. RTC victims are not collateral damage nor is appearing court for serious driving offences a bit of hard luck.
Pity there’s no breakdown of offences in Scotland because there’s only one police organization – Police Scotland. Is there any way to get a break down by region within Scotland. I’m sure there’s a big difference between Highland and Lowland.
I’m a driving instructor and I see the standard of driving getting worse all of the time. Motorists blatantly break the law and the police ignore a lot of it. I don’t blame the police because they are overloaded with paperwork and understaffed. Even when a motorist is taken to court it’s a joke and the penalty points on the license is meaningless as they say that by loosing the license will cause hardship to the family.
I never met one of my Uncles. He was returning home on his motorcycle on which he had passed his test and was killed by a car driver who had cut the corner. That murderer merely received a £100 fine. Granted, that was a fair bit of money in 1965 but even so, I thought he had literally gotten away with murder.
Avon has always been the worst county for speeding fines ever since the sixties! It has no basis for the worst drivers it only means certain cretinous councils in their deluded notion that you can create solution by taxing problems! which in reality just creates an elitist one law for the super rich and another for the rest!
The police are just part of social services today, more concerned with ‘hate crime ‘ & the like rather than finding & stopping criminals. My case was closed 24 hours after being burgled. London’s not included because after all the ‘cycle super highways ‘ & TFL crackpot ideas traffic is grinding to a halt
The number of offences recorded is simply the very tip of the iceberg as the chances of being caught are extremely low. I would expect the actual number of offences committed to be absolutely massive. I only obey traffic laws where they are incidental to good and safe driving, and where there are coppers and cameras about!!
You need your license revoked pal
Skilled driver you are not!
Don’t know how Merseyside got on the list because I never see police anywhere on the roads around where I drive.
Where does the law stand taking a photo with a Smartphone, while stationary in a long traffic jam. Obviously the engine is running.
Seems to me that’s using a hand-held mobile phone whilst the engine is running; Guilty!
Turn off the engine and take out the key while you take the pic!!
I think this is a worthless exercise. It makes no reference to either Blackburn or Bradford where the driving is the worst I have seen anywhere in the country.
I drove a BMW for about 10 years and did not get a single ticket although I was stopped by the police several times.
I think they realised immediately I was not the type of motorist they were looking for.
On one occasion they said they had a report of a drunk driver in a grey BMW.
I was driving a grey BMW but it was clear I was not drunk.
Driving to Maidstone it appears that indicators are optional in the south. I did a 310 mile trip delivering a car (BMW) to a customer of ours the quality of the driver’s was noticeable in different area’s. Because the other drivers see you driving in this case a top of the range customised model had to race even Corsa’s . No one is a perfect including me and road users should think of the results in the way they drive and not their image includes both sexes.
On some long roads there are varying speed restrictions for the whole length; a spell at 40 mph, then 30 past a strung out settlement and maybe a brief spell unrestricted. With poor highway maintenance, signs get lost in hedges and looking out for damaging potholes is a distraction. Different patterns of white line marking to show the speed limit would help the driver and give a real improvement in following speed limits.
Have you forgotten your lessons? – if there is no speed limit displayed then assume it’s 30!
Only if there are street lights!
Reading the comments here, it,s no wonder there is so much Law breaking on the roads. “Consider other road users” is meant in a positive way, not as a challenge. In all the years I have been driving I have seen a deteriation in driving skills, it seems to become more aggressive by the day. Tailgating , never giving way, overtaking on the right hand side, anger and stress. Just drive with a BIG gap between your vehicle and the one in front and enjoy the drive the easy way, stress free. You can see the idiots comming and avoid the confrontations. If you speed or use the phone, you will get caught eventually and risk your licence. Be calm behind the wheel, or as my grandchildren say, “chill”.
Note to author / editor: this relates to offenders caught and prosecuted. There are no figures for the areas in which offenders got away with it!
I would say the worst driving is in Clacton, Essex. 1 in 3 drivers are always in the wrong lane at roundabouts and you have to guess where drivers are going as they don’t signal. Don’t driving schools teach ‘Mirror, signal, manoeuvre any longer. Don’t get me started on mobile phone users. They should lose their cars!
How about drivers overtaking cyclists I have been nearly crashed into head on several times by drivers on my side of the road giving cyclists a ridiculous amount of space very dangerous trend
I am one of those ‘worst drivers’. I have just been convicted of doing 34 mph in a 30 mph zone, that varies from 40 mph to 30 mph to 40 mph in a 1/2 mile stretch. Sneaky motorcyclist Police Officer hiding behind a hedge. A week later hiding behind a wall in 20 mph zone in a village, thankfully I was driving behind a cyclist doing 8 mph. All in the AVON and SOMERSET Police area. Never been booked before. I wonder if the Police get a portion of the lout. I have plenty of ‘carcam’ footage of Police cars doing hell for leather speeds (well over my 70 mph) on the dual carriageway locally. Of course they all claim to be attending emergencies.
Ahh no mate! They’re getting the sugar and milk… that’s what they do ’round our way… I’ve watched ’em
That’s why they’ve got them blue light thingys
Having watched a “Traffic Cops” on TV when they were with Bedfordshire Police, my jaw dropped when they quite openly on-screen spoke about the “CREDITS” they had to earn each month. Obviously some form of “incentive” or a “brown-nosing” scheme from their superiors, otherwise they could be on the redundancy list, should the time come. They gave details of how many “credits” they got for each type of offence. There were two women officers on there that were enthusing about how many seat-belt and mobile-phone tickets they had given out as they were “easy” “CREDITS” to earn towards their monthly total. They should not be following this form of (policing)?
In the North East, virtually all drivers believe they have the right of way when joining any main road, dual carriageway or, God help us, Motorways (A.1M)!
You do get used to it, and know where the worst slip roads are, but still, disconcerting at least to those unused to this.
This is because the slip roads around here are so ridiculously short that you either barge in or stop dead. Which is most dangerous?
Living north of Newcastle I have discovered that most motorists are considerate and sensible to the nth degree.
Long may it contine
If I can see a slip road onto the road I am on, and traffic is about to enter the nearside lane, I move across to the next lane and leave room for the joining traffic to enter; common sense really!
I drive a PHV around Flint… it amazes me how angry folk get when they turn left into oncoming traffic at speed without looking…. drive around a corner at speed without anticipation of oncoming traffic… likewise over a hill… and, to find you are a fellow driver in their path (!?!?!?!)
Driver discipline is appalling these days… they do not appear able to park at a kerb correctly… where is lane knowledge and what is that?
Double parking… deliberately engaging a conversation with a pedestrian in middle of traffic flow… misuse of and non-use of indicators
Who issues driving licenses and based on what criteria?
Having lived in countries where you just buy your drivers licence somebody is making a lot of money for producing angry, useless, irrisponsible and careless drivers here in UK
And, there’s a lot more!
In West Yorkshire there’s a speed camera round every corner and then mobile vans hiding just as you come into limits. All out for one thing, money, money, money!
And now the smart motorway they have the cameras on when there are no extra restrictions despite them saying several months ago that they wouldn’t do that.
If it was genuinely about safety they would have huge signs up and use average speed cameras all the time but we all know it’s not!
The safety cameras in Wiltshire are not in use (other than in video vans), so it’s no surprise Wiltshire wasn’t in the list. But the cameras are off because speeding is rare, even where the roads are good, which makes driving in the county fairly relaxed. That said, about half the cars seem to use indicators that are optional extras (or their drivers assume others have ESP), with roundabouts particularly dangerous to negotiate. I’ve lost count of the number of drivers who continue signalling right when they are leaving a roundabout, or don’t signal at all. Are indicators and roundabouts still in the driving test?
Lose licence for 3 months
Can anyone explain the logic that the Highways Authority uses when setting speed limits? Does someone just think of a number and they use it without really thinking about what speed would best suit the road?
Example 1: A dual carriageway with few or no houses has a 40mph limit but could easily be 50, 60 or 70mph.
Example 2: A twisty, single carriageway road, with hidden hazards, through a country village but the speed limit is 60mph (National Speed Limit).
Example 3: When approaching a roundabout on many different types of road, with varying speed limits (40mph, 50mph), why does the speed limit INCREASE to the national speed limit when you should be braking to negotiate the roundabout?
It’s about time motor insurance underwriters started to use this data to set premiums based on individual drivers’ records.
I started motorcycle driving in 1955 and car driving in 1965. Since then, I have had just one driving conviction, a speeding offence (or rather got caught just once, to be honest) and nothing since the mid-1970’s. Granted, as one gets older one tends to be a bit more circumspect, but I do make a conscious effort to not commit driving offences (or any other kind for that matter!) mainly because I am too tight-fisted to repeatedly and flippantly give away more of my brass to governments when I am already blowing more than enough in taxes on my driving. The bottom line, of course, is the answer is in the hands of all drivers. Stick within the law, but shut up and put up if you chose deliberately to no do so.
All I will add to that is those who blatantly and repeatedly commit serious offences, such as driving without legally required documents and/or deliberately driving dangerously, need to be more severely punished than they are now. It is a travesty that one can mass kill on the roads and be less severely punished than for, say, an individual domestic killing.