Convictions for speeding up by nearly half in 5 years

SPEEDING convictions have jumped by almost a half in just five years, a report showed yesterday.

The average number of drivers caught by each of the country’s police forces has risen to 55,511 a year, compared with 38,923 in 2010.

Half a million of the offences are committed on motorways – making them the most likely place to be clocked.

The 43 per cent rise in convictions reflects a surge in the number of speed cameras, some of which measure average speeds over a specific distance.

The study, carried out by insurer LV= and based on official figures, also found that the number of drivers attending speed awareness courses has risen 91 per cent since 2010.

In addition, the researchers surveyed 4,000 motorists, 632 of whom had been caught speeding. Thirty-five per cent of them were trapped more than once.

However, reoffending rates were around 20 per cent lower in those who had been on an awareness course.

John O’ Roarke of LV= said: ‘It has been ten years since the speed awareness courses were intro-the opportunity to pay to go duced and the research shows on the courses instead of that they are far more effective receiving a fine and penalty at deterring speeders from points on their licence. reoffending than giving out The Alliance of British Drivers fines and penalty points. fears that police have a financial

‘However, if a driver is caught exceeding the limit by even just a few miles per hour, they can still be fined and given points on their licence.

‘Drivers should take care to stick to the speed limits to avoid a fine, penalty points or worse.’

Last year a record number of motorists were allowed to take a re-education course, the vast majority of them for speeding.

Other offences that are covered include failing to wear a seatbelt, careless driving and using a hand-held mobile at the wheel. Drivers are given incentive to push drivers on to the courses, which were introduced in 2005.

But the charge is denied by organisers and police who say the fees are sufficient only to cover costs.

Road safety campaigners says the principle purpose of reeducation should be to complement points and fines rather than replace them. Official figures show that 1,355,796 drivers went on courses in 2014 of which the one on speed awareness was the most popular and had 1.2million attendees. Five years ago the total figure was 467,601.

The rise of the re-education courses means that the majority of rogue drivers can now escape the court system.

A Ministry of Justice report shows that 793,500 motoring offences were dealt with by magistrates in 2013 – down from more than 1million in 2010.

The worst speeding offences last year were on the M25 where Kent Police caught two drivers doing 146mph – more than twice the road’s limit. Avon and Somerset Constabulary stopped a motorist racing along the M4 at 138mph and Essex Police recorded a 140mph offence on the A120 near Stebbing, which has a 70mph speed limit.

Perhaps the most extreme case was logged by Nottinghamshire Police, who caught a motorist doing 120mph on the A631 at Beckingham – the road is a 50mph zone.

The LV= report says: ‘Official data suggests that motorists are more likely to be caught speeding on a motorway than any other road, with around half a million convictions given out in 2014 alone.

‘Although most speeders only drive a few miles per hour above the limit, some are caught driving excessively fast.’

‘A surge in speed camera numbers’