New data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has laid bare the nation’s most common driving offences and where in the country they’re most committed.

Perhaps inevitably, speeding is Britain’s motoring Achilles heel. With over one million offences in 2024 alone, speeding on roads and motorways is rampant across the country and accounts for 85% of all penalty points on driving licences.

Taking offence

However, there are tens of thousands of drivers flouting the law in other areas. Here are the 10 driving offences of 2024 (so far) according to the DVLA data unearthed by Scrap Car Comparison:

  1. Exceeding the speed limit: 941,495 drivers caught ignoring their speedometer.

     

  2. Motorway speeding: 231,669 drivers clocked on the motorway.

     

  3. Driving uninsured: 54,798 motorists caught without proper insurance.

     

  4. Mobile phone use: 36,446 drivers busted for looking at a screen, instead of the windscreen.

     

  5. Failure to provide driver information: 29,831 drivers ‘struggled’ with their paperwork.

     

  6. Failing to comply with traffic light signals: 27,813 motorists ignored seeing red.

     

  7. Exceeding goods vehicle speed limits: 23,237 goods drivers had a heavy right foot.

     

  8. Driving without due care and attention: 11,754 failed to focus on the road.

     

  9. Driving with the wrong licence: 9,217 drove without the correct category or permissions.

     

  10. Using a vehicle with defective tyre(s): 6,338 risked their safety on worn-out rubber.

Southern discomfort

When it comes to regional differences, the South East takes the dubious honour of being the most law-breaking region. London is a close second with the North West bringing up the rear, while West Scotland comes in at 10.

Here’s the breakdown of the top ten regions where motorists have amassed the most points on their licence:

  1. South East England: 205,678
  2. Greater London: 180,205
  3. North West England: 155,236
  4. South West England: 149,568
  5. Yorkshire and the Humber: 143,888
  6. East England: 134,311
  7. West Midlands: 126,264
  8. East Midlands: 122,338
  9. North East England: 39,392
  10. West Scotland: 36,585

“Laws are there for a reason, and in the case of driving, they will most definitely make your experience on the roads a safer one when followed and rescue the chance of your car ending up in a crash and on the scrap heap.”

• David Kottaun, Operations Manager, Scrap Car Comparison

Know Your Code

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Image by Christine Sponchia from Pixabay