Speeding fines surge by 14% in 3 years, with AI cameras catching thousands of drivers

• 2,341 drivers have been caught by AI cameras since they were piloted on UK roads in 2021. These cameras go beyond catching speeding offences and can see if drivers are using their phone behind the wheel, or not wearing a seatbelt.
• Almost 2 in 5 (38%) drivers admit they have been caught for speeding, with a third of these (32%) admitting to doing so twice.
• And the financial impact goes beyond fines themselves, as offenders see their car insurance increased by an average of £139 as a result.
• Only 1 in 4 (24%) know that speeding fines are often based on your annual income. Find out how much you could be fined for speeding with Confused.com’s calculator.

More than 9 million drivers have been caught speeding in the last 3 years - with offences on the rise.

That’s according to new data obtained by Confused.com by Freedom of Information requests to UK Police Forces. According to the data, more than 3.3 million Notices of Intended Prosecution (NIP) were issued to drivers in 2024 - the highest recorded in the past 3 years. This is a 14% increase in comparison to 2022, where just over 2.9 million offences were reported.

In recent years, the Department for Transport (DfT) has been increasing parameters and systems to improve road safety. From new speed cameras to 20 mph limits in residential areas, more is being done to bring these numbers down.

And one of the latest initiatives for this has been the piloting of Artificial Intelligence (AI) speed cameras. Using the constantly developing and high-tech AI services means drivers can be snapped for speeding over the limit. But they can also detect drivers not wearing a seatbelt or using a mobile phone behind the wheel. The technology can achieve full images inside the car to determine the driver’s appearance and other close up details. It can also confirm the make and model of the car.

Despite only piloting on UK roads in 2021, 2,341 drivers have been caught by AI cameras to date. Of the 35 police constabularies who responded, 5 currently have AI cameras in place, with another 2 planning to roll them out soon.

A third (33%) of UK drivers believe the use of AI will make roads safer. But a similar amount (36%) also hope that a person is checking over what the new AI camera records. This is because they’re worried it might catch drivers incorrectly. That’s as another 1 in 5 (17%) think the use of AI cameras is an invasion of their privacy in their car.

However, it’s positive to see that more than 1 in 10 (14%) are less likely to use a mobile phone while driving now because of the AI speed cameras. These people told us that they feel they could be caught by an AI speed camera more easily than by other cameras. A further 11% say the same about not wearing a seatbelt.

Even with the introduction of new technology to improve road safety, speeding is still an issue on UK roads. In fact, our research found that nearly 2 in 5 (38%) drivers have received a NIP for speeding, with a third (32%) doing so twice. More than half (52%) said that since being caught for speeding, they’re more careful about meeting speed limits. However, with a third being caught twice, the cost of a ticket clearly isn’t always a big enough deterrent. That’s even as drivers commented that their car insurance increased by an average of £139 after receiving a speeding fine.

When it comes to speeding, the Metropolitan police constabulary caught the most number of drivers in the last year, followed by West Yorkshire and Devon & Cornwall.

In terms of why people speed, a third (31%) say they were unaware they were speeding in the first place. 40% say it’s because they were running late or needed to get somewhere faster. In line with this, nearly half (46%) would drive over the speed limit if it was an emergency. But worryingly, 1 in 5 (20%) would speed just to overtake another driver. 1 in 10 (11%) admit they would speed if they thought there weren’t any cameras.

Despite many taking the risk, it’s positive to see that half (50%) drive more carefully when they’re around a school or residential area. And 26% believe that reducing speed limits will help make roads safer. Another 28% think there should be more signposting for cameras on roads so drivers know when to reduce their speed.

In a world where we are constantly trying to do things quicker, there is a clear risk to road safety. But, it’s clear there’s an appetite for new ways to improve road safety. That’s as 1 in 3 (34%) drivers say they’re more likely to reduce their speed if they see a policeman while driving. And 17% believe there should be more cameras on UK roads. Speeding is an offence that typically carries a penalty of a fine, up to £100, and a minimum of 3 points on their licence. But in more extreme cases, the fines could be higher. If a driver is caught exceeding the speed limit by an excessive amount, their fine could in fact be calculated as a percentage of their annual income. How far over the limit they were driving could also affect the fine amount too. To help drivers understand how much they could be fined, Confused.com has created a speeding fine calculator. Worryingly, only 1 in 4 (24%) knew that these penalties existed.

While we can’t avoid other essential motoring costs like MOT services and insurance, driving fines can be avoided by sticking to speed limits and road laws. So sticking to speed limits not only will keep roads safer but also save unexpected costs.

Rhydian Jones, Confused.com car insurance expert comments, “Our latest research found that over 9 million drivers have been caught speeding in the last 3 years. That’s as the number of speeding fines in 2024 14% higher than those caught in 2022. But speeding isn’t the only issue, as distractions like mobile phones cause dangerous driving too.

“That’s why the piloting of AI speed cameras is a step in the right direction to improve road safety. The technology can spot drivers and passengers not wearing a seatbelt or using their phone behind the wheel. The hope is that this will really help to crack down on drivers who risk the safety of themselves and other road users when behind the wheel.

“If you’re fined for speeding, the minimum cost is £100 and 3 points on your licence. But in some cases, the amount can depend on your annual income, which band your fine falls into and how much faster than the limit you were driving. Using our speeding fine calculator will help you to work out how much you might owe if you are caught.”

- ENDS -

Notes to editors