Q1) What are the National speed limits for different vehicles and types of road?
Q2) What percentage of vehicles exceed the speed limits?
Q6) How many motorists were fined for breaking a 20 mph speed limit in 2024?
Q7) What are Speed Awareness Courses?
Q9) Is the cost of a Speed Awareness Course the same throughout the country?
Q10) How effective are speed awareness courses?
Q11) Are there any other courses designed to cover low level moving traffic offences?
Q13) How many miles of roads in Great Britain are now regularly monitored by average speed cameras?
Q15) Has the number of roads policing officers declined since 2010?
Q17) How many uninsured drivers are there?
Q18) What is being done to tackle uninsured driving?
Q20) Which areas have the highest levels of uninsured drivers?
Q21) How many uninsured vehicles were seized by the police in 2024?
Q24) Do the police have powers to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for careless or inconsiderate driving?
Q25) How many motoring offences are dealt with by the courts in England and Wales?
Q28) What are the areas in England where local authorities have civil parking enforcement powers?
Q30) How many parking debts were passed on to bailiffs by local authorities in 2023/24?
Q31) Are further restrictions on pavement parking planned?
Q32) How many drivers are penalised for parking on private land?
Q36) How much is owed by foreign embassies in unpaid congestion charges in London?
Q37) How many practical car driving tests were taken in 2024/25 and what was the pass rate?
Q38) Can learner drivers take driving lessons on motorways?
Q39) What is the drink-drive legal alcohol limit?
Q40) What are the current penalties for exceeding the legal alcohol limit?
Q41) What is a drink-drive rehabilitation course?
Q42) How many breath tests are carried out in England and Wales?
Q43) Is drug driving against the law?
Q44) Is it an offence to hold a hand-held mobile phone while driving or riding?
Q45) Has the law regarding hand-held mobile phone use behind the wheel recently been tightened up?
Q47) What percentage of drivers in England have been observed using a hand-held mobile phone?
Q48) What are the penalties for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving or riding?
Q50) What are the current levels of Vehicle Excise Duty evasion?
Q51) How can I report an untaxed vehicle?
Q52) Is seat belt use compulsory?
Q53) What percentage of drivers in England have been observed wearing seat belts?
Q54) What are the rules governing the use of a child’s car seat?
Q1) What are the National speed limits for different vehicles and types of road?
A1) There are different speed limits for cars, vans, Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and towing vehicles on different types of roads and you must not drive faster than the speed limit for the road and your type of vehicle.
Details of the national speed limits can be viewed here.
It should be noted that local councils may set their own speed limits in areas where there is a particular need. For example, there could be a 20 mph zone in a built-up area near a school or a 50 mph (rather than 60 mph) speed limit on a stretch of road with sharp bends. Local limits must be clearly signed.
Q2) What percentage of vehicles exceed the speed limits?
A2) In 2024, 44 per cent of cars and 47 per cent of vans exceeded the speed limit on motorways in free flow conditions. 7 per cent of cars and 9 per cent of vans exceeded the speed limit by 10 mph or more in free flow conditions. Compliance with the speed limit on motorways by articulated HGVs in 2024 was very high, with only 2 per cent of vehicles exceeding the speed limit. The low percentage of articulated HGVs exceeding the speed limit on motorways may be influenced to legislation requiring all HGVs over 3.5 tonnes to be fitted with speed limiters to 56mph.
Across all road types in free flow conditions, the highest level of speed limit compliance for cars in 2024 was on national speed limit single carriageways with 9 per cent of cars exceeding the speed limit (60 mph). For other classes of vehicles, compliance with speed limits on this type of road is lower with 42 per cent of short buses (under 12m), 39 per cent of rigid HGVs and 36 per cent of articulated HGVs exceeding the speed limit. (Statistics on van compliance are not collated on national speed limit single carriageways.)
43 per cent of cars and 45 per cent of vans exceeded the speed limit on 30 mph roads in free flow conditions. For the larger-sized vehicle types, there were also high levels of speed limit exceedance, with 36 per cent of rigid HGVs and 34 per cent of articulated HGVs exceeding the speed limit in free flow conditions.
For 20 mph roads, the statistics come with a warning that the ‘free flow’ 20 mph sites in this data set will tend to be unrepresentative of 20 mph limits in general. With that proviso, under free-flow conditions, 76 per cent of cars exceeded the speed limit at the 20mph sites where data are available; and 10 per cent exceeded the speed limit by over 10mph.
Source: Vehicle speed compliance statistics for Great Britain: 2024
Q3) Are there any guidelines as to when the police should issue a Fixed Penalty Notice or prosecute drivers driving over the speed limit?
A3) The law is the law and police forces have the right to penalise anyone who is breaking the speed limit. However, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) previously quoted the following guidance from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) (now superseded by The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC)), though that guidance is no longer available either on the CPS website nor is it on the NPCC website.
The revised speed enforcement policy guidance issued by ACPO in 2013 suggests that enforcement will normally occur when a driver exceeds the speed limit by a particular margin. The particular margin is normally 10 per cent over the speed limit plus 2 mph. The guidance sets guidelines for when it would be appropriate to issue a fixed penalty notice or for the driver to attend a speed awareness course, and when it becomes appropriate to issue a summons. These are guidelines only and a police officer has discretion to act outside of them providing he acts fairly, consistently and proportionately.
In summary the guidelines are:
Speed limit: 20 mph
ACPO threshold for:
- a fixed penalty or a Speed Awareness course: 24 mph
- summoning: 35 mph
Speed limit: 30 mph
ACPO threshold for:
- a fixed penalty or a Speed Awareness course: 35 mph
- summoning: 50 mph
Speed limit: 40 mph
ACPO threshold for:
- a fixed penalty or a Speed Awareness course: 46 mph
- summoning: 66 mph
Speed limit: 50 mph
ACPO threshold for:
- a fixed penalty or a Speed Awareness course: 57 mph
- summoning: 76 mph
Speed limit: 60 mph
ACPO threshold for:
- a fixed penalty or a Speed Awareness course: 68 mph
- summoning: 86 mph
Speed limit: 70 mph
ACPO threshold for:
- a fixed penalty or a Speed Awareness course: 79 mph
- summoning: 96 mph
Q4) Are there differences between the ways in which the police forces of England and Wales enforce speed limits and dispose of speeding cases?
A4) Yes. Analysis of Home Office figures has revealed large differences between the police forces of England and Wales in the way they enforce speed limits and dispose of speeding cases, with the number of drivers being detected for speeding more than 275 times higher in some parts of England and Wales than others.
In 2021, 2,854,757 speeding offences were detected in England and Wales, an 18 per cent increase on the 2,424,882 figure for the previous 12 months. Of the instances of speeding that did not get cancelled (see question below):-
- 1,225,147 (42.9 per cent of the 2,854,757 total) were disposed of with a speed awareness course
- 853,811 (29.9 per cent) ended in a fixed penalty notice
- 290,239 (10.2 per cent) ended in court action
The analysis also shows that there continues to be large disparities between forces in the number of speeding offences detected. Whilst the Metropolitan Police (including the City of London) topped the list with 385,349 people caught speeding in 2021 (followed by West Yorkshire (226,285) and Avon (166,781) at the other end of the scale Wiltshire Constabulary caught only 1,397 people speeding, Cleveland 15,519 and North Wales 18,958.
The variations across police forces are likely to include road network length, road type, traffic volume and makeup, local priorities dictated by police and crime commissioners, financial and human resources, and the availability of detection technology. In Wiltshire, for example, all speed cameras were turned off in 2010.
There are also large variations in the way offenders were punished, with the proportion of speeding offenders sent on a speed awareness course showing widespread regional variation. For example, in Wales (excluding North Wales) only 165 offenders (0.4 per cent) were sent on a speed awareness course whereas at the other end of the scale 62 per cent of offenders detected in South Yorkshire were sent on a course.
Detailed figures for all constabularies in England and Wales can be viewed here.
Q5) How many speeding offences detected by police forces in England and Wales in 2021 ended up being cancelled?
A5) RAC Foundation analysis of government data suggests more than one in six speeding offences detected by police forces in England and Wales ended up being cancelled.
During 2021, a total of 2,854,757 cases of speeding were recorded by constabularies in the two countries and later reported to the Home Office. However, 476,384 (16.7 per cent) of these were later cancelled.
The reasons why offences go on to be cancelled is not recorded but could include:-
- Faulty or incorrectly calibrated speed cameras
- Cloned vehicles carrying a false number plate
- Emergency vehicles lawfully breaking the speed limit whilst driving with blue lights
- A delay in issuing notices of intended prosecution
- A lack of resources to bring cases to court
Q6) How many motorists were fined for breaking a 20 mph speed limit in 2024?
A6) Police forces across the UK issued 488,599 tickets in 2024 for drivers speeding on a 20mph road — a rise of two thirds on the previous year.
An overwhelming majority of the 20mph speeding fines came from the Metropolitan Police in London (312,070) but a large chunk also came from forces in North Wales (60,779) and South wales (44,305).
In total, 120 local authorities utilise the 20mph cap. In 69 authorities, more than half of all urban roads are set at 20mph.
Q7) What are Speed Awareness Courses?
A7) The National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme allows Chief Constables to offer eligible offenders who admit the offence of speeding an opportunity to attend a speed awareness course on the effects and dangers of speeding as an alternative to a speeding fine and penalty points.
The courses aim to influence the attitudes and behaviour of drivers by directly challenging attitudes towards speeding, to offer motorists insight, awareness and understanding about their speed choices and to help equip participants to change their behaviour.
Q8) How many drivers have opted to attend a Speed Awareness Course rather than accept penalty points on their licences?
A8) In 2025, the number of drivers that opted to attend a National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme speed awareness course rather than accept penalty points on their driving licence was 1,853,250. This is a 12 per cent increase over the previous year (1,650,322) and is the highest yearly number ever recorded.
Source: National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme: Trends and Statistics
Q9) Is the cost of a Speed Awareness Course the same throughout the country?
A9) No. There are big differences in what drivers can expect to pay for Speed Awareness Courses. The exact amount you will pay depends on where you live and the provider of the course.
Prices vary, but a course typically costs between £80 and £100. Motorists attending a Speed Awareness Course in Cleveland and Durham pay £79, while those attending in Humberside pay 27 per cent more (£100).
Police forces are permitted to claim a maximum of £45 from the course cost to cover fees associated with administering the courses.
Q10) How effective are speed awareness courses?
A10) In a study commissioned by the Department for Transport and carried out by Ipsos MORI, it was found that targeting the behaviour of motorists through these courses reduced the likelihood of re-offending within six months by up to 23 per cent. The report also concluded that over a period of three years, taking part in the course was more effective at reducing speed re-offending than a fine and penalty points.
Source: Impact Evaluation of the National Speed Awareness Course: Final Report
Q11) Are there any other courses designed to cover low level moving traffic offences?
A11) Yes. There are a range of courses run under the auspices of the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme.
These include Safe and Considerate Driving Courses aimed at drivers who have been involved in a collision without serious consequences, where their driving has amounted to a lapse of concentration or an error of judgement and a National Motorway Awareness Course for motorists driving on motorways, who have been detected exceeding the active variable speed limit or who have passed through a mandatory Red X lane closure signal or committed infringements occurring on hard shoulders and emergency refuge areas.
A full list of the available courses can be viewed here.
Q12) What is the total number of road users who have completed a driver retraining course since their introduction in 2010?
A12) About 22.5 million road users have completed a driver retraining course since their introduction in 2010.
In 2025, 2,234,682 million people accepted a place on one of the seven courses sometimes offered by police as an alternative to a fine and/or points on a licence.
Source: National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme: Trends and Statistics
Q13) How many miles of roads in Great Britain are now regularly monitored by average speed cameras?
A13) More than 250 miles of roads in Great Britain are now being regularly monitored by average speed cameras.
Research carried out for the RAC Foundation by Road Safety Analysis in May 2016 identified at least 50 stretches of road which are permanently managed by the cameras with a total length of 256 miles under observation. Average speed cameras are also often used on a temporary basis to manage traffic through roadworks but these are not included in this study.
The 50 stretches range in length from just a quarter of a mile over Tower Bridge in London to 99 miles on the A9 between Dunblane and Inverness in Scotland.
Q14) Does the use of average speed cameras cut the number of crashes resulting in death or serious injury?
A14) The use of average speed cameras has been found, on average, to cut the number of crashes resulting in death or serious injury by more than a third.
Research for the RAC Foundation in 2016 by Road Safety Analysis found that on average – having allowed for natural variation and overall trends – the number of fatal and serious collisions decreases by 36 per cent after average speed cameras are introduced.
The average reduction in personal injury collisions of all severities was found to be 16 per cent.
Source: The Effectiveness of Average Speed Cameras in Great Britain
Q15) Has the number of roads policing officers declined since 2010?
A15) RAC analysis of government data shows that the number of roads policing officers in England and Wales has reduced by more than 1,000 in the last 10 years.
Back in 2015 there were 5,237 officers across 43 police forces working in a range of roles from traffic units on the roads to safety camera partnerships focused on mobile speed enforcement. As of 2025, this has fallen to just 4,149 (1,088 reduction), making for a 21 per cent drop.
Looking purely at police out on the roads or ‘cops in cars’, the reduction is greater with the number of traffic units decreasing by 1,116 from 5,005 in 2015 to 3,889 in 2025 (a 22 per cent reduction).
There has even been a slight decline in the number of officers dedicated to safety camera partnerships – or casualty reduction partnerships as they are formally known – with 42 fewer this year (144) than 10 years ago (186).
Q16) Would an increase in the number of roads policing officers improve road safety and help tackle wider crime?
A16) Those who break the law by driving dangerously pose a considerable threat to other road users and remain responsible for a substantial loss of life on the roads. Evidence shows that improved enforcement can significantly reduce the number of fatal and serious injuries and it is clear that there is a relationship between roads policing and road safety – more enforcement tends to improve compliance, and to reduce collisions and casualties.
Since 2010, the long-term decline in the number of road deaths and serious injuries has largely ceased. It is widely suggested that this is at least partly due to reductions in roads policing as enforcement of traffic laws – in well-targeted operations, by combinations of trained officers and technology – does indeed improve compliance and reduce casualties. As the number of dedicated roads policing officers has fallen, so too has the number of motoring offences detected, precipitously so for some offences such as failure to wear a seat belt. Only for speeding, where enforcement has largely been automated, has there been an increase.
Active roads policing can also help reduce wider crime. Evidence shows that there is an above-average likelihood that – when compared with the general population – serious motoring offenders may also be engaged in wider criminality. For example, the Motor Insurers’ Bureau records show that drivers without insurance are more likely to be involved in other crimes, and that uninsured vehicles are consistently used to conduct wider criminal activity. Disruption of the mobility of serious motoring offenders may therefore have benefits beyond road safety.
Source: PACTS: Roads policing and its contribution to road safety
Q17) How many uninsured drivers are there?
A17) Data released by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau shows that there is an average of 300,000 uninsured vehicles on UK roads every day. As vehicles may be uninsured for months at a time, the total number uninsured across the year is over 1 million.
Uninsured driving is a huge problem to society, causing devastation to innocent victims and their families. It also has strong links to secondary driving-related offences including speeding, drink or drug driving, and unroadworthy vehicles, and even crimes such as money laundering or drug running.
Q18) What is being done to tackle uninsured driving?
A18) You must have motor insurance to drive your vehicle on a UK road and a wide range of measures are in place to prevent people knowingly driving uninsured and to tackle those who do so.
In 2011, the government introduced the Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) rules. These rules require all vehicles to either have valid motor insurance, or if a vehicle is not being used, to be registered with a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) at the DVLA. Under the CIE scheme, the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) and DVLA work in partnership to continuously identify uninsured vehicles by systematically comparing DVLA vehicle records against motor insurance policies held on the Motor Insurance Database (MID).
The registered keeper of a vehicle that appears to be uninsured will be sent an Insurance Advisory Letter (IAL). This letter will advise them that their vehicle appears to be uninsured and that unless they take action, they will receive a penalty from the DVLA. If, after receiving an IAL, a registered keeper fails to comply with the advice set out in the letter they can face:
- A fixed penalty notice of £100
- Their vehicle being clamped, seized and disposed of
- A court prosecution and a maximum fine of £1000.
In addition, the police use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) to identify vehicles that appear to be uninsured. If a member of the public denies that their vehicle is uninsured, a police offer can liaise with Police Helpline Agents at the MIB to confirm whether a valid insurance policy is in place. The police have the power to seize any uninsured vehicle being used on a public road. New legislation introduced in April 2023 increased the removal charge for seized cars and light vans to £192 and the storage charge to £26 per day. There is also a disposal charge of £96 and vehicles not reclaimed after 14 days can be disposed of by the police.
The police will also give drivers a fixed penalty of £300 and 6 penalty points if they are caught driving a vehicle they are not insured to drive. Alternatively, if the case goes to court, an uninsured driver could also get an unlimited fine or be disqualified from driving and receive up to 8 points on their licence.
NOTE: Following the issue of the government’s road safety strategy document, the government is consulting on whether the penalties for uninsured driving should be increased to enable the courts to pass a sentence that reflects the seriousness of these offences and the harm caused if death or serious injury have occurred when committing them.
Q19) How can I ensure that my insurance remains valid and that I do not drive uninsured accidentally?
A19) The top tips to ensure your insurance remains valid include:-
- Not assuming that your motor insurance policy is set to auto-renew
- Checking that your payment method is still valid when your renewal is due
- Not assuming that fully-comprehensive cover allows you to drive someone else’s vehicle
- Remembering to SORN a vehicle if it is being taken off the road and not used
- Checking your insurance allows for the class-of-use required, such as commuting or making food or parcel deliveries
Q20) Which areas have the highest levels of uninsured drivers?
A20) Data from the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), ranked by defendants per 1,000 population and based on 2 years of MIB claim data, highlights the hotspots for uninsured driving.
Whilst RM19 in Thurrock tops the leaderboard for uninsured driving defendants, West Midlands postal areas account for five of the top 15 hotspots, with areas of Peterborough, Manchester, Belfast and Havering also making an appearance.
Interestingly, 30 claims against uninsured drivers from CR0 in Croydon were submitted to MIB over a 2-year period – the highest number in one postal district in the UK. However, due to the dense population of the area, it only ranked 169th on the hotspot list.
The top 15 hotspots for uninsured driving can be viewed here.
Source: Motor Insurers’ Bureau
In addition, the Motor Insurers’ Bureau also released figures in March 2023 that set out London’s top 20 postal hotspots for uninsured driving. Enfield, Barking and Dagenham and Havering were named as the worst three London boroughs for the issue
The insight also revealed London has the highest number of uninsured drivers in the country, with nearly one fifth of offenders residing in the capital.
Full details can be viewed here.
Q21) How many uninsured vehicles were seized by the police in 2024?
A21) According to information supplied by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, 138,915 vehicles were seized across the UK because they had no insurance in 2024. This is an 11 per cent increase over the 124,997 uninsured vehicles seized across the UK in 2023.
Q22) How many uninsured vehicles have been seized in total since powers to stop and seize uninsured vehicles were introduced in 2005?
A22) According to information supplied by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, 2,661,355 uninsured vehicles have been seized since powers to stop and seize uninsured vehicles were introduced in 2005.
Q23) How many Fixed Penalty Notices are issued by the Police in England and Wales for motoring offences?
A23) A Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) is a prescribed financial penalty which may be issued to a motorist as an alternative to prosecution. They can be issued for a limited range of motoring offences, such as speeding offences and using a hand-held mobile phone while driving. An FPN can be endorsable (accompanied by points on a driving licence) or non-endorsable (not accompanied by points on a driving licence).
In the year ending December 2024, excluding the Metropolitan Police Service and 490,272 cancelled cases, there were 2,934,790 motoring offences recorded by the national fixed penalty processing system (PentiP) which resulted in a fixed penalty notice (FPN) or another outcome. This is an increase of 9 per cent compared with the previous year (2,695,492) and is the highest recorded number since comparable records began in 2011.
(NOTE:- Not all forces exclusively use the PentiP system to record motoring offences. For example, several police forces such as the Metropolitan Police Service, North Wales, South Wales, Gwent, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire do not record all outcomes of motoring offences on the PentiP system. Therefore, it is likely that the data published is not a complete record of all motoring offences that occur in England and Wales and is potentially an undercount).
Of the 2,934,790 motoring offences recorded (excluding cancelled cases) which resulted in an FPN or another outcome:-
- 961,861 cases resulted in the driver receiving an endorsable FPN (33 per cent)
- 112,201 cases resulted in a non-endorsable FPN (4 per cent)
- an individual attended a driver retraining course in 1,501,618 cases (51 per cent)
- 359,110 cases resulted in court action (12 per cent)
Over four-fifths (86 per cent) of the motoring offences recorded on PentiP were for speed limit offences (2,536,194). This was up 9 per cent compared with the year ending December 2023 (when there were 2,322,357 offences) and is the highest number of speed limit offences recorded since 2011. Between 2011 and 2024, the number of speeding offences has increased or remained steady in each year, with the only noteworthy year-on-year decline in speeding offences seen in 2020, occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, the majority of speed limit offences (98 per cent) were detected by a camera, a similar proportion to 2023.
Of the 398,596 motoring offences recorded in 2024 by police forces in England and Wales (excluding the Metropolitan Police Service) not relating to speed limit offences:-
- 104,301 (26 per cent) were ‘Neglect of traffic signs and directions and of pedestrian rights’ offences
- 81,255 (20 per cent) were ‘Licence, insurance and record-keeping’ offences
- 51,093 (13 per cent) were ‘Careless driving offences (excluding use of handheld mobile phone while driving)’ offences
With the exception of ‘Miscellaneous motoring offences’ (which make up 0.1 per cent of all non-speed limit offences), the number of offences increased across all non-speed limit offence categories compared with 2023, though some offence categories saw greater increases than others.
Offences categorised in the ‘Careless driving offences (excluding use of handheld mobile phone whilst driving)’ offence group saw the largest increase in numerical terms, increasing by 10,848 (27 per cent). Offences relating to ‘Neglect of traffic signs and directions and of pedestrian rights’ saw the next largest numerical increase, increasing by 5,822 (6 per cent). Offences relating to ‘Use of handheld mobile phone while driving’ and ‘Obstruction, waiting and parking offences’, also saw larger percentage increases compared with 2023 (11 per cent and 10 per cent respectively).
In 2020, the Metropolitan Police Service introduced a new system for recording FPNs. This system change is likely to affect the total number of FPNs and the way in which outcomes are recorded (especially cancelled FPNs). So figures for the Metropolitan Police Service are shown separately below.
In 2024, excluding cancelled cases (353,577), the Metropolitan Police Service reported 596,782 motoring offences which resulted in an FPN or another outcome. This represents a 19 per cent increase compared with the previous year (501,143).
In 2024, the Metropolitan Police Service recorded 491,828 speed limit offences, an increase of 25 per cent compared with 2023 (393,233); this number is now 3.6 times higher than the number of offences recorded in 2019 (138,447). This rise may be partly linked to the Vision Zero action plan, under which the Metropolitan Police Service and Transport for London aim to reduce harm on London’s roads by 2041, through initiatives such as the introduction of lower speed limits.
Looking at the 2024 Metropolitan Police Service data by outcome, 229,057 motoring offence cases resulted in a driver receiving an FPN (38 per cent of the overall cases, excluding cancelled FPNs). An individual attended a driver retraining course in 291,676 cases (49 per cent) and 76,049 cases (13 per cent) resulted in court action.
Source: Police powers and procedures: Roads policing, to December 2024
Q24) Do the police have powers to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for careless or inconsiderate driving?
A24) Yes. Fixed Penalty Notices can be issued to drivers who put other road users at risk by driving below the minimum standard expected of a competent and careful driver. This includes driving without reasonable consideration for other road users.
Some examples of careless or inconsiderate driving are:-
- overtaking on the inside
- driving too close to another vehicle
- driving through a red light by mistake
- turning into the path of another vehicle
- the driver being avoidably distracted by tuning the radio, lighting a cigarette etc
- flashing lights to force other drivers to give way
- misusing lanes to gain advantage over other drivers
- unnecessarily staying in an overtaking lane
- unnecessarily slow driving or braking
- dazzling other drivers with un-dipped headlights
The fixed penalty for careless driving is £100 with 3 points on the driver’s licence. The most serious examples will continue to go through court, where offenders may face higher penalties.
Q25) How many motoring offences are dealt with by the courts in England and Wales?
A25) Prosecutions for motoring offences in England and Wales reached a ten-year high of 812,000 in 2025, up 5 per cent from the previous year’s figure.
The increase in motoring offences prosecutions was due, in part, to a 19 per cent increase in ‘failing to supply information as to identity of driver when required’ (from 88,700 in 2024 to 105,900 in 2025). There was also a 10 per cent increase in vehicle registration and excise licence offences from 147,200 in 2024 to 161,700 in 2025,
Vehicle insurance offences, vehicle registration and excise licence offences and speed limit offences remained the most common motoring offences, collectively accounting for 65 per cent of all motoring prosecutions in 2025. Compared to 2015, vehicle registration and excise licence offences have increased by 98,000, speed limit offences have increased by 51,000 whilst vehicle insurance offences have decreased by 18,500.
Prosecutions for motoring offences which caused death were unchanged on the previous year at 450, 26 per cent above the lowest level seen in 2022. The custody rate for these offences fluctuated between 56 per cent and 68 per cent over the last five years.
Conviction and sentence volumes increased in line with prosecutions. Almost all (95 per cent) sentences for motoring offences were dealt with via a fine. The average fine individuals received for motoring offences increased from £310 in 2024 to £327 in 2025. The overall custody rate remained unchanged at 1 per cent, with an average custodial sentence length (ACSL) of 10.8 months in 2025, a slight decrease from 11.4 months the previous year. The custody rate has remained broadly stable over the last 10 years, however ACSL has increased over this period from 7.5 months in 2015.
The number of sentenced offenders directly disqualified for motoring offences increased by 29 per cent in the latest year (from 81,000 in 2024 to 104,000 in 2025). In addition, a further 23,800 offenders were disqualified by the penalty points system, a decrease of 33 per cent from the previous year and 395,000 offenders received points on their licence without a disqualification, an increase of 4 per cent from the previous year.
Source: Criminal Justice Statistics quarterly, December 2025
Q26) How many individuals have points on their driving licences and how long do these points stay on a licence?
A26) In November 2025, 3,260,736 people had penalty points on the licences recorded at DVLA (out of a total number of 53,365,156 licences recorded at DVLA).
This means about 6 per cent of the licences that are recorded at DVLA are subject to penalty points.
Source: GB Driving Licence Data
Endorsements stay on a driving record for 4 or 11 years depending on the offence. This can start from either the date a person is convicted or the date of the offence.
The endorsement is ‘valid’ for the first:-
- 3 years, for a 4-year endorsement
- 10 years, for an 11-year endorsement
Full details about penalty points (endorsements) can be viewed here.
Q27) What guidance is issued to local authorities on the civil enforcement of parking contraventions?
A27) The Department for Transport’s Statutory Guidance to local authorities on the civil enforcement of parking contraventions can be viewed here.
Q28) What are the areas in England where local authorities have civil parking enforcement powers?
A28) A map and list of the local authorities who have civil parking enforcement powers can be viewed here.
Q29) How many Penalty Charge Notices are issued by local authorities in England and Wales with Civil Parking Enforcement powers and how many are appealed against?
A29) In 2024/25, the total number of parking Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued by local authorities in England outside London was 6,324,655. This is about 12 per cent higher than the 5,643,077 PCNs issued in 2023/24.
The number of parking PCNs appealed to the tribunal in 2024/25 was 8,107. Of these, 1,318 appeals were allowed, 4,258 refused and 1,891 not contested by the local authority. 181 were subject to a consent order.
The number of Bus Lane PCNs issued by local authorities in England outside London in 2024/25 was 1,909,132, down from 1,987,177 PCNs in 2023/24.
In addition, English local authorities outside London also issued 339,835 PCNs for moving traffic offences in 2024/25. This was up 800 per cent over the 37,842 PCNs issued for moving traffic offences in 2023/24. This followed a change in the law which meant that from 31 May 2022, local authorities in England outside of London could apply to the Secretary of State for new powers to enforce moving traffic offences. This meant they could be granted powers that had previously been held only by the police and could now issue fines to drivers for these offences for the first time.
In 2024/25, the total number of parking PCNs issued by local authorities in Wales was 410,809, up from 332,597 in 2023/24.
The number of parking PCNs appealed to the tribunal in 2024/25 was 682. Of these, 140 appeals were allowed, 361 refused and 124 not contested by the local authority. 19 were subject to a consent order.
The number of Bus Lane PCNs issued by local authorities in Wales in 2024/25 was 10,452, down from 14,876 in 2023/24. In addition, Welsh local authorities also issued 189,441 PCNs for moving traffic offences in 2024/25, up from 164,123 in 2023/24.
Full details relating to the various PCNs that were issued, and appeals made to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, can be seen in the Appeals Data. The data also contains details of PCNs issued in connection with Merseyflow, the Dart Charge, the Durham Road User Charge, littering from vehicles and clean air zones.
A copy of the Traffic Penalty Tribunal: England and Wales Annual Report 2024/25 may also be seen here.
Source: Traffic Penalty Tribunal, England & Wales: Appeals Data
In 2024-25, the total number of PCNs issued by the London boroughs, the London Lorry Control Scheme and Transport for London (across the full range of parking, bus lane and moving traffic regulations) was 9,462,185. This represents an increase of 13.5 per cent in the total number of PCNs issued in 2023-24 (8,337,417).
This increase was due to a 13.4 per cent rise in the number of parking PCNs issued (up from 4,560,690 in 2023-24 to 5,171,275), while bus lane PCNs saw an increase of 16.8 per cent (up from 319,357 in 2023-24 to 373,070) and moving traffic PCNs an increase of 13.3 per cent (up from 3,453,439 in 2023-24 to 3,913,503).
Source: London Councils
In 2024/25, 48,484 appeals against PCNs issued in London and 5,755 statutory declaration/witness statements referrals were received in the reporting period by the Environment and Traffic Adjudicators. 43,193 appeals were determined of which 19,625 appeals were allowed (11,105 were not contested) and 23,568 were refused.
Source: Environment and Traffic appeals statistics 2024/25
Q30) How many parking debts were passed on to bailiffs by local authorities in 2023/24?
A30) Parking debts were passed on to bailiffs by local authorities on 4 million occasions in 2023/24 according to a report carried in the Times newspaper.
This is up from 2.4 million in 2022/23, 1.9 million in 2019/20 and 1.3 million in 2017/18.
The figures were collected by the Civil Enforcement Association which compiled the figures from companies working for local authorities.
Q31) Are further restrictions on pavement parking planned?
A31) Yes. Following a public consultation, the Department for Transport has confirmed that local leaders will be given new and improved legal powers to make it easier to restrict pavement parking across wider areas, rather than relying on the previous approach, where action is often limited to individual streets and requires lengthy, complex processes.
Under the new approach, local leaders will be able to decide whether to take action on pavement parking in their area. They will also retain flexibility to decide whether pavement parking may still be deemed to be acceptable.
Delivering a permanent, devolved solution on pavement parking requires primary legislation followed by the development of a regulatory framework governing how devolved solutions on pavement parking are to be implemented. The government has said it will look to legislate on this at the next available opportunity.
Full details can be seen here.
Pavement parking is already banned in Scotland. The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 bans pavement parking, double parking and parking at dropped kerbs, with certain exemptions designated by local authorities – for example to ensure safe access for emergency vehicles. From 11 December 2023, local authorities began to enforce the law.
Q32) How many drivers are penalised for parking on private land?
A32) Parking management companies that are members of an accredited trade association – of which there are currently two, the BPA and the IPC – are entitled to make electronic requests to the DVLA to access vehicle keeper data. This information is then used to pursue drivers for penalties of up to £100 a time for supposed infringements of the rules in privately run car parks like those found at shopping centres, leisure facilities and motorway service areas.
A record number of vehicle keeper records were bought by private companies in 2024/25. Government data shows that the DVLA sold 14,371,841 vehicle keeper records to car park management companies in 2024/25. This is about 13 per cent higher than the 12,768,101 records bought by companies in the previous financial year.
It means that companies are requesting an average of about 39,375 records every day.
The DVLA charges private companies £2.50 per record. Based on the record volume of requests received last year, the agency will have generated £35.9million from selling motorists’ details to parking firms.
Source: RAC Foundation
Latest figures show that in the first 9 months of financial year 2025/26, DVLA sold 13,083,330 vehicle keeper records to car park management companies. Should this rate be maintained for the rest of the financial year, about 17.4 million vehicle keeper records would be sold to car park management companies in 2025/26. This is far in excess of the 14.37 million records requested in 2024/25 which was in itself a new record.
Q33) Has the number of vehicle keeper records obtained by car park management companies from the DVLA increased over recent years?
A33) Yes. The number of vehicle keeper records requested by car park management companies has exploded since 2012 when wheel clamping on private land was all but outlawed.
The number of requests has risen from 1.57 million in 2011/12 to 14.37 million in 2024/25.
Full details of the number of vehicle keeper records requested by car park management companies made in each year going back to 2006/07 can be viewed here in the data section of our website.
Q34) Has there been an increase in the number of car park management companies accessing vehicle records from DVLA so they can issue penalties to drivers on private land?
A34) A total of 184 parking companies requested vehicle keeper records from the DVLA in the year to the end of March 2025. This compares with 97 firms who bought vehicle keeper records from DVLA in 2016/17.
Just five companies were responsible for nearly half of the 14.4 million requests. The five parking companies which issued 46 per cent of the requests were ParkingEye (2,300,360), Euro Car Parks (1,733,493), APCOA Parking (960,482), Horizon Parking (875,833) and Civil Enforcement Ltd (684,864).
Q35) How many appeals were registered with Parking On Private Land Appeals (POPLA) and how many were upheld?
A35) Between 1 October 2023 and 30 September 2024, POPLA received 98,110 appeals.
92,098 appeals completed the POPLA process. 64,808 appeals were decided of which 13,216 were allowed and 51,592 refused. In addition, parking operators decided not to contest 23,800 appeals (resulting in the parking charges being cancelled). This means that 40 per cent of appeals that completed the POPLA process resulted in the appellant’s parking charge being cancelled (37,016 out of 92,098).
Source: POPLA Annual Report 2024
Q36) How much is owed by foreign embassies in unpaid congestion charges in London?
A36) Since the congestion charging scheme was introduced in London in 2003, £168,039,850 of congestion charge fines have not been paid by foreign embassies. (Figures correct at 31 December 2025).
The United States has the greatest amount of unpaid fines, owing a total of £16.011 million. They are followed by China (£12.112 million) and Japan (£11.051 million).
88 diplomatic missions owe more than £100,000 in fines and overall, 146 diplomatic missions owe fines.
Source: Transport for London
Q37) How many practical car driving tests were taken in 2024/25 and what was the pass rate?
A37) Over the course of the 2024/25 financial year, 1,839,817 car practical driving tests were conducted in Great Britain. Compared to the year-ending March 2024, this was a decrease of about 5 per cent on the 1,945,225 car practical tests that were undertaken in the previous year.
The overall pass rate was 48.7 per cent, slightly higher than the previous year’s 47.9 per cent. The male pass rate was 49.5 per cent and the female pass rate 47.6 per cent.
Full details on the driving test and theory test data for cars can be viewed here.
Source: Table : DRT121B
Q38) Can learner drivers take driving lessons on motorways?
A38) Yes. From Monday 4 June 2018, learner drivers can take driving lessons on motorways in England, Scotland and Wales. This change does not extend to learner motorcylists.
Learner drivers will need to be:-
- accompanied by an approved driving instructor
- driving a car fitted with dual controls
Full details can be viewed here.
Q39) What is the drink-drive legal alcohol limit?
A39) The legal alcohol limit for drivers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is:-
• 80 milligrammes (mg) of alcohol per 100 millilitres (ml) of blood (80mg/100ml), or
• 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 ml of breath, or
• 107 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of urine
It should be noted that in the near future, Northern Ireland plans to reduce their limits to:-
• 50 milligrammes (mg) of alcohol per 100 millilitres (ml) of blood (50mg/100ml), or
• 22 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 ml of breath, or
• 67 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of urine
Plus lower limits for professional and novice drivers of:-
• 20 milligrammes (mg) of alcohol per 100 millilitres (ml) of blood (20mg/100ml), or
• 9 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 ml of breath, or
• 27 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of urine
The position is different in Scotland where a new legal alcohol limit was introduced on December 5 2014. Here, the limit is:-
• 50 milligrammes (mg) of alcohol per 100 millilitres (ml) of blood (50mg/100ml), or
• 22 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 ml of breath, or
• 67 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of urine
NOTE: Following the issue of the government’s road safety strategy document, the government is consulting on whether the legal alcohol limit for drink and drive offences in England and Wales should be lowered or stay the same and whether the legal alcohol limit for drink and drive offences in England and Wales be lower for novice drivers than for other drivers.
Q40) What are the current penalties for exceeding the legal alcohol limit?
A40) You could be imprisoned, banned from driving and face a fine if you’re found guilty of drink-driving. The actual penalty you get is up to the magistrates who hear your case, and depends on your offence.
Drivers who drive, or attempt to drive, while over the legal alcohol limit face penalties of:-
• up to 6 months in prison
• an unlimited fine
• a minimum of 12 months’ disqualification (3 years for a second offence within 10 years)
Full details of all the penalties that could be incurred through drink-driving can be viewed here.
Q41) What is a drink-drive rehabilitation course?
A41) If you have been found guilty of a drink-drive offence and your ban is for 12 months or more, you can be offered a rehabilitation course to reduce your driving ban. The ban is usually reduced by a quarter provided the course is completed within a certain time.
Further details can be viewed here.
Q42) How many breath tests are carried out in England and Wales?
A42) The following data should be treated with caution.
Upon submitting data for the calendar year 2024, a significant number of police forces reported changes in data-recording methodology, software systems or operational tools (for example, new breath test devices). For some forces this resulted from substantial improvements to collection processes, while for others, IT issues resulted in incomplete records. This is in addition to 6 police forces which were already previously excluded from analysis of long-term trends due to historic changes in data collection or incomplete data.
Of the 43 territorial police forces in England and Wales, a total of 17 forces reported methodological changes or data quality concerns. As a result, the following data focusses solely on the remaining 26 forces who were able to provide comparable data and focusses on the change between 2023 and 2024 only.
In the year ending December 2024, across the 26 territorial police forces (who were able to provide comparable data), there were 167,095 breath tests carried out by police. Compared to the previous year (ending December 2023) this represents a 0.2 per cent decrease (from 167,384).
Although the overall change in number of breath tests carried out appears minimal, a breakdown by police force area shows substantial variation, with increases in some areas offsetting decreases in others. Northumbria saw the largest increase, with 37 per cent more breath tests carried out in the year ending December 2024 as compared to the previous year whereas Hampshire and Isle of Wight saw the largest decrease, with 30 per cent fewer breath tests carried out compared to the previous year.
In 2024, there were 24,823 positive or refused breath tests across the 26 forces able to provide comparable data. The number of positive or refused breath tests in 2023 represents 15 per cent of the breath tests carried out by the 26 forces. This proportion is similar to 2023.
The proportion of positive or refused tests varied across the 26 forces who were able to provide comparable data range from 8 per cent to 26 per cent, with Cleveland and Leicestershire falling at the lower and upper ends of this range respectively. Generally, forces which saw increases in the number of breath tests conducted as compared to 2023, saw subsequent decreases in the percentage of positive or refused tests. Conversely, forces with decreases in the number of breath tests conducted, more often saw an increase in the percentage of positive or refused tests as compared to 2023.
Source: Police powers and procedures: Roads policing, to December 2024
Q43) Is drug driving against the law?
A43) Yes. There are two laws that relate to drug driving. It is illegal to drive if either:
- you are unfit to do so because you’re on legal or illegal drugs
- you have certain levels of illegal drugs in your blood (even if they haven’t affected your driving)
The drug driving law was strengthened in 2015 to make it easier for the police to catch and convict drug drivers. The new offence of driving with a specific controlled drug in the body above that drug’s accepted limit was introduced as under the previous legislation it was often difficult to prove a particular drug impaired a driver’s actual driving ability.
There are now limits in place for legally driving while taking eight prescription drugs and eight illicit drugs. (Amphetamines are treated differently). The limits can be viewed here.
If you are taking prescription medicines, you can legally drive while taking these medicines in accordance with instructions from a healthcare professional or whilst sticking to recommended dosages and they do not impair your driving in any way. If you are using above the standard prescribed dosage for these medicines and driving, you could be breaking the law. If you are unsure the best thing you can do is contact your local GP.
Further information on drug driving can be viewed here.
Q44) Is it an offence to hold a hand-held mobile phone while driving or riding?
A44) Yes. It is illegal to hold a phone or sat nav while driving or riding a motorcycle.
The use of hands-free mobile phone access, such as a bluetooth headset, voice command, a dashboard holder or mat, a windscreen mount or a built-in sat nav, is permitted while driving but you must stay in full control of your vehicle at all times. The police can stop you if they think you are not in control because you are distracted and you can be prosecuted. The device must also not block your view of the road and traffic ahead.
The law still applies to you if you are:-
- stopped at traffic lights
- queuing in traffic
- supervising a learner driver
You can use a hand-held phone if either of these circumstances apply:-
- you are safely parked
- you need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency and it’s unsafe or impractical to stop
Further information can be viewed here.
Q45) Has the law regarding hand-held mobile phone use behind the wheel recently been tightened up?
A45) Yes. From 25 March 2022 it is now illegal for motorists to use a handheld mobile phone under virtually any circumstance while driving.
This new legislation closes a legal loophole which had previously allowed drivers to escape prosecution for hand-held mobile phone use while behind the wheel. Whilst previous legislation prevented drivers from using a hand-held mobile phone to call (except in an emergency) or text, people caught filming or taking photos while driving had escaped punishment as lawyers had successfully argued this activity does not fit into the ‘interactive communication’ outlawed by the previous legislation.
The new legislation means any driver caught texting, taking photos, browsing the internet, playing games or scrolling through a playlist while behind the wheel can be prosecuted for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving. Anyone caught using their hand-held device while driving will face a fine up to £1,000 and 6 points on their licence.
There will be an exemption to the new law for drivers making a contactless payment using their mobile phone while stationary to ensure the law keeps pace with technology. This exemption will cover, for example, places like a drive-through restaurant or a road toll, and will only apply when payment is being made with a card reader. It will not allow motorists to make general online payments while driving.
Drivers will still be able to continue using a device ‘hands-free’ while driving, such as a sat-nav, if it is secured in a cradle. They must, however, always take responsibility for their driving and can be charged with an offence if the police find them not to be in proper control of their vehicle
Full details may be viewed here.
Q46) What percentage of drivers admit to driving or being stationary in traffic and using their mobile phone in their hand?
A46) The levels of drivers who have reported that they have driven or been stationary in traffic and using their mobile phone in their hand are drawn from questions asked in the ONS Crime Survey for England and Wales.
In the year ending March 2025, of the respondents that had driven in the last 12 months, 4.3 per cent reported using their phone in their hand whilst driving or stationary in traffic. The percentage that reported to have used their mobile phone whilst driving or stationary in traffic has been broadly stable between years ending March 2019 and March 2025.
The majority of respondents either used their phone via Bluetooth, Voice Command or dashboard holder (49.2 per cent) or did not use their phone at all (46.2 per cent) whilst driving or stationary in traffic.
Source: Crime Survey for England and Wales: self-reported driver behaviour, year ending March 2025
Q47) What percentage of drivers in England have been observed using a hand-held mobile phone?
A47) On weekdays in England in autumn 2023:-
- 3 per cent of all vehicle drivers were observed using a mobile phone whilst driving (a similar proportion to that for Scotland based on data collected in early 2024)
- 6 per cent of van drivers were observed using a mobile phone whilst driving, compared to 0.2 per cent of car drivers
- males, and drivers estimated as aged 17 to 29, were more likely to be observed using a mobile phone while driving than females and drivers estimated as being aged 60 or over respectively
- based on data for a small selection of sites, a higher proportion of drivers (0.8 per cent) were observed using a mobile phone during the evening (6pm to midnight)
These estimates are lower than those shown by previous surveys, though the groups with relatively higher phone use are broadly similar. This could reflect changes in the survey method used for the 2023 survey.
Source: Mobile phone use by drivers: England 2023
Q48) What are the penalties for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving or riding?
A48) New, stronger penalties for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving were introduced in March 2017.
You can now get a fixed penalty notice carrying a penalty of a £200 fine and 6 penalty points on your licence for using a hand-held phone when driving. New drivers who have passed their test in the last 2 years will automatically lose their licence
You could also be taken to court where you could face disqualification and a fine of up to £1,000 (£2,500 if you’re driving a lorry or a bus).
You can get 3 penalty points if you do not have a full view of the road and traffic ahead or proper control of the vehicle.
See here for further details.
Q49) How many Fixed Penalty Notices are issued for the offence of using a mobile phone while driving or riding in England and Wales?
A49) 2024 saw a continued increase in the number of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) issued for using a handheld mobile phone while driving in England and Wales (excluding London).
In England and Wales (excluding the Metropolitan Police Service) the number of FPNs issued went up by 11 per cent from 36,813 in 2023 to 40,723 in 2024. This is likely due to a change to mobile phone legislation in March 2022, which incorporated wider “use” of a hand-held device whilst driving, giving officers more opportunities to report offenders
However, in London, the number of FPNs issued for the offence of ‘use of a handheld mobile phone while driving’ in 2024 was 6,990, a decrease of 20 per cent compared to the 2023 figure of 8,791. This is the second consecutive year the number of FPNs issued in London for this offence has fallen.
Source: Police powers and procedures: Roads policing, to December 2024
Q50) What are the current levels of Vehicle Excise Duty evasion?
A50) In 2023, there was an estimated:-
- 1.3 per cent of vehicles in UK traffic that were unlicensed
- 498,000 unlicensed vehicles in UK active stock, or 1.2 per cent of all vehicles
NOTE: Evasion ‘in traffic’ is the rate of unlicensed vehicles in traffic. In other words, if you stood beside an average road, the percentage of passing vehicles which you would expect to be unlicensed. Evasion ‘in active stock’ is the number of distinct vehicles which are unlicensed as a proportion of all the distinct vehicles that may use UK roads at any time. In other words, if you considered all the registered vehicles in the UK, this is the percentage of those which are unlicensed.
The rate of VED evasion seen ‘in traffic’ is higher, at 1.3 per cent, than the 1.2 per cent rate seen in active stock. This suggests that vehicles evading VED in the UK are not being kept off the roads e.g. on driveways, but are actively being driven on the roads – although care should be taken when comparing rates as they may not be statistically significant.
Full details regarding VED evasion including by tax class, region and country and age of vehicle can be viewed in the publication below.
Source: Vehicle excise duty evasion statistics: 2023
Q51) How can I report an untaxed vehicle?
A51) Firstly, check if the vehicle is taxed before you report it.
Then make a note of the vehicle registration number, make, model and colour of the vehicle and the street name, town and postcode where the vehicle is parked. You will not be able to report the vehicle without these details.
You can then report the vehicle online. Your report is anonymous and will be investigated.
Full details can be viewed here.
Q52) Is seat belt use compulsory?
A52) Yes. You must wear a seat belt if one is fitted in the seat you’re using – there are only a few exceptions.
You are also only allowed 1 person in each seat fitted with a seat belt.
You can be fined up to £500 if you do not wear a seat belt when you are supposed to.
Wearing a seatbelt saves hundreds of lives every year. You should wear a seat belt in both the front and rear seats. Wearing a seatbelt in the back is just as important as wearing one in the front of the vehicle.
The Department for Transport’s leaflet on “Seat Belt and Child Restraints” can be viewed here.
Q53) What percentage of drivers in England have been observed wearing seat belts?
A53) On weekdays in England in autumn 2023:-
- 97.6 per cent per cent of all vehicle drivers were observed using a seatbelt (compared with 96.4 per cent for Scotland based on data collected in early 2024)
- 95.2 per cent of all vehicle front seat passengers were observed using a seatbelt (compared with 95.7 per cent for Scotland)
Seatbelt wearing rates varied notably by vehicle type. The highest rate of seatbelt use amongst drivers in England in 2023 was observed for cars, and the lowest proportion was observed for taxis and private hire vehicles. (There is a broadly similar pattern for Scotland). This is similar to previous surveys. The lower wearing rate for taxis and private hire vehicles is likely to reflect the exemptions from wearing a seatbelt for taxi and private hire vehicle drivers, and is also based on a very small number of vehicles observed.
Source: Seatbelt wearing rates: England 2023
Q54) What are the rules governing the use of a child’s car seat?
A54) You must make sure that any children in the vehicle you are driving are:
- in the correct car seat for their height or weight until they reach 135 cm tall or their 12th birthday, whichever is first
- wearing a seat belt if they’re over 12 or more than 135cm tall.
The Child Car Seats website has information on how to choose a seat and travel safely with children in cars.
You can be fined up to £500 if a child under 14 is not in the correct car seat or wearing a seat belt while you are driving.
The Department for Transport’s leaflet on “Seat Belt and Child Restraints” can be viewed here.