Experts at confused.com are warning that drivers could soon see a crackdown on driving offences as the Department for Transport grants local authorities the power to deal with minor traffic violations. As a result, some 2.6 million motorists could be at risk of receiving fines and penalty points for the most common driving offences.   

With that in mind, the experts looked at Freedom of Information requests received by the DVLA to find out what the most common offences were to help motorists avoid any unpleasant fines. 

Exceeding the statutory speed limit on a public road

Data showed that by far the most common offence was exceeding the statutory speed limit on a public road. 

As of July 2022, some 2.1 million speeding offences were committed by drivers in the UK. 

The experts added that the stark number is twice as high as all the other offences combined. 

Exceeding the speed limit on a motorway

Speeding on the motorway is the second most often committed offence. According to the data, just over 444,000 motorway speeding were recorded. 

The experts stressed that exceeding the speed limit on a motorway is a separate offence from exceeding the statutory speed limit on a public road.

The penalties for speeding on a motorway are also higher and fines can range from 25 to 175 percent of the offending driver’s income.  

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The Government website states that the minimum penalty for speeding is a £100 fine and three penalty points added to the driving licence.

Drivers may also be disqualified from driving if they manage to build up 12 or more penalty points within three years. 

If motorists are stopped by the police, they could receive a verbal warning, a fixed penalty notice or an order to go to court. 

Young drivers must be particularly cautious as their licence could be revoked if they build up six or more penalty points within two years of passing their test.

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Using an uninsured vehicle 

Using uninsured vehicles against third-party risks is the third most often committed offence. 

Just under 200,000 offences of that kind have been recorded as of July 2022. 

Driving without the proper insurance is a criminal offence and can be punished with a £300 fine and six penalty points

Motorists also risk increasing their insurance premiums if they are caught. 

Alex Kindred, a car insurance expert at Confused.com, said: “Penalty points are designed to keep roads safe and protect motorists, pedestrians and cyclists by acting as a deterrent against unsafe driving.

“A driver could lose their licence if they build up 12 or more penalty points within a period of three years. Not only this but, the more points you have, the higher your car insurance could be.

“If you find yourself with points on your licence, there are occasions where an alternative to points may be offered.

“For example, you can accept a short ban of around 14 days. Also, if issued with a speeding ticket for driving between 10 percent plus 2mph-9mph of the limit, you might have the option to take a speed awareness course.

“This is instead of getting the points on your licence. However, you’re only offered a speed awareness course if you meet certain criteria and it depends on how serious your speeding offence was.”

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