UK regions where you are most and least likely to be caught speeding

22 April 2024 , 14:20

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The worst hotspots for speeding have been named [file image] (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The biggest speeding hotspots in England and Wales have been named with more than one in five cars being slapped with an offence each year in the worst region.

The shocking stats were revealed in a new study that combined data from the Home Office and the DVLA to find out which area had the highest ratio of registered vehicles per speeding violation. It found that Warwickshire Police clocked up 91,325 speeding violations in 2022, equivalent to one for every 4.58 vehicles in the area.

The research, carried out by Go Compare Car Insurance, also highlighted other areas where drivers are most likely to be caught breaking the speed limit. Greater London and Devon and Cornwall were also named as speeding hotspots. The Metropolitan Police reported one penalty for every 4.82 vehicles, putting the capital in the top three worst places for speeding. Meanwhile, in Devon and Cornwall, the ratio was slightly higher, with one offence being issued for every 4.64 vehicles.

Bedfordshire and Surrey also made it into the top 10, with speeding violations being handed out to every 8.18 and 9.14 vehicles respectively. This suggests that the south could be a particularly troublesome area for drivers who have a need for speed, reports Bristol Live.

However, Yorkshire has been identified as a hotspot for speeding offences. Both North and West Yorkshire feature in the top 10, with penalties issued for every 6.26 and 6.49 vehicles respectively, suggesting that the county is home to some of the nation's most reckless drivers.

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Full list of top 10 speeding hotspots

Warwickshire - 4.58 (vehicles per speeding offence)

Devon and Cornwall - 4.64

Greater London - 4.82

Avon and Somerset - 5.51

North Yorkshire - 6.26

West Yorkshire - 6.49

West Mercia - 8.16

Bedfordshire - 8.18

Surrey - 9.14

Lincolnshire - 9.28

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On the flip side, South Wales was found to have the lowest ratio of speeding offences, with just one offence for every 43 vehicles. North Wales also boasts one of the lowest ratios, with only one offence for every 21 vehicles, indicating that Welsh drivers are among the best at adhering to speed limits.

Two regions in North East England also ranked within the 10 areas with the lowest ratios. Northumbria Police (covering Northumberland, and Tyne and Wear) reported a slightly higher ratio than North Wales, with one offence for every 21.87 vehicles.

Cleveland Police (which covers Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Stockton) had an even lower ratio of just 1:30, placing it among the five areas with the lowest ratios in England and Wales.

Full list of lowest 10 areas for speeding

South Wales (inc. Gwent and Dyfed-Powys) - 43.4 (vehicles per speeding offence)

Kent - 34.02

Derbyshire - 33.32

Cleveland- 30.3

Nottinghamshire - 22.62

North Wales - 21.89

Northumbria - 21.87

Hampshire - 18.86

Cheshire - 18.78

West Midlands - 16.7

Tom Banks, a car insurance expert at Go. Compare, said: "Speeding is perhaps one of the most common safety risks associated with using our roads, so identifying the country's hotspots is a key indicator of where the most dangerous places to drive are. It seems that the South is home to some of the nation's worst areas, although the figures for Yorkshire are also particularly concerning.

"If you ever see other motorists driving dangerously, you should report them to the police as soon as it's safe to do so by pulling over and dialling 999. It's also important to avoid straying over the limit yourself so that you don't put the safety of yourself and others at risk.

"If you do exceed the limit and get caught by the police, you'll likely receive a £100 fine and three penalty points. This will also have an impact on the price you pay for your insurance, so putting your foot down is both a pricey and dangerous risk to take."

Rom Preston-Ellis