Significant rise in speeding drivers

THOUSANDS of people in Wales have been found guilty of speeding during the coronavirus pandemic as two in three drivers broke the limit in the first lockdown.

Exclusive figures from the DVLA have revealed that 21,449 fines were handed out by courts across the country between April and October this year – along with points on the offenders’ licences.

The figures are based on data obtained following a Freedom of Information request. The minimum penalty for speeding is a £100 fine and three penalty points, up to a maximum of £2,500 and a full driving ban.

Motorists speeding by a caught speed camera or by the police are usually given a £100 fine and three points in the form of a fixed penalty notice (FPN).

Cases will also end up in court if you plead not guilty to an FPN – and you can be fined more and get more penalty points if the court then decides you are guilty.

The 21,449 speeders found guilty in Welsh courts between April and October is a big drop from 34,548 during the same period of 2019, reflecting the decrease in the number of cars on the road.

However, separate figures show that while fewer people were travelling by car during the first Uk-wide lockdown, the proportion speeding rose significantly.