Police forces issued 488,599 tickets in 2024 to drivers travelling at more than 20 mph in a 20 limit. This is an increase of two thirds from the previous year, according to data gathered from all 43 British police forces.
You can be caught for doing 24 mph on a major road, such as the South Circular in London near the Kew Retail Park, a wide road with little pedestrian use. In that area 20 mph feels too slow. It has its dangers too, when less patient drivers overtake a car they feel is travelling excessively slowly. If they know where the cameras are they will get away with it. And you are likely to be overtaken by cyclists to whom the limits do not apply.
There are obviously areas in towns where this limit is important. But it is equally obvious that the objectives elsewhere are anti-car and money making.
The 2025 figures are bound to increase. Just how many drivers will it take to be criminalised for a more discriminating policy to be considered?
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I don’t think a speeding fine is a criminal offence
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Technically Ray is correct. A speeding fine is not a criminal offence IF you accept the fixed penalty notice and endorsement of points on your licence. BUT it is clearly more than just a parking ticket. If you seek to challenge the speeding fine and lose it becomes a conviction.
PLUS there is the risk of accumulating points leading to disqualification from driving.
Given the increasing number of tickets issued, TWO THIRDS INCREASE IN 2024, with no doubt more to come in 2025, there will surely be a concomitant effect on the number of cases which go to court. That increases the numbers affected by criminalisation, with consequential impact on an already overloaded criminal justice system which is failing to deal adequately with far more serious matters.
The bottom line has to be that society at large has respect for the law and is capable of implementing it. These numbers suggest oversight and / or disrespect.
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The 20mph limit is absolutely necessary when motorists have to be alert to scooters, electric bikes as well as ordinary bikes. It’s frustrating but if it prevents accidents it is fine by me.
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Excellent news. Just excellent.
If I may make a suggestion: could you enforce/work with council on a decibel limit? The noise from some of the motorcycles that race down our roads is deafening.
Thank you so much for all your hard work. Appreciated.
Robynne Limoges
Robynne@pwa-cr.com
http://www.RobynneLimoges.com
+44 (0)7946 293 582
Twitter (@LimogesRobynne)
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