Thirty years after the first Gatso camera was installed in the UK to catch speeding motorists, new figures reveal the sites catching the most drivers. In 12 months, 1.74 million speeding offences were captured by cameras across the UK, with drivers forking out a staggering £45.7 million in fines.
That’s according to new Freedom of Information data obtained by Confused.com from 36 of the 46 police forces in the UK. The FOI request asked UK police forces how many prosecutions were made against drivers caught speeding.
However, of the 1.74 million motorists that were caught, only 457,232 drivers were forced to take a £100 fine and 3 penalty points on their licence. Instead of a fine, 698,115 drivers opted to take a speed awareness course. This typically costs around £100 for enrolment, but means the participant doesn’t get any penalty points. The worst offending drivers could be taken to court and get an even more severe punishment, with fines potentially as a percentage of their salary.
But when it comes to where drivers are being caught, it seems some areas of the UK are more prolific than others. According to the data, cameras on the A40 in North-West London, heading into the capital, have caught the most offenders, totalling 50,000 speeding drivers in the last financial year alone. Some of the nation’s most popular motorways, including the M4, M5 and M6 are also among the top prolific sites for offences, as are several trunk roads.
According to Confused.com’s research, there are currently more than 1,300 operating speeding cameras policing UK roads. So which speeding camera tops the list for catching drivers?
The data uncovered the single busiest speed camera sites in each police area in the UK in the last year (21/22):
Site |
No. of intended prosecutions |
Police Constabulary |
A40 between Long Dr and Wellands Gdns E/B |
49,050 |
Metropolitan |
M25 Junction 7-16, Surrey |
23,134 |
Surrey |
M4 Junction 20-19, Bristol |
18,317 |
Avon & Somerset |
A5460 Narborough Road, Leicester, Jnc with Fullhurst Avenue |
16,634 |
Leicestershire |
M6 Junction 1-4 (Northbound and Southbound) |
15,410 |
Warwickshire |
Garston Way/ Dock Road, Liverpool |
15,295 |
Merseyside |
M5 Junction 4a-6, Birmingham |
15,062 |
West Mercia |
A282 Dartford Tunnel Approach Road |
14,423 |
Kent |
Lewes Road, Brighton, Jnc with Coldean Lane |
14,172 |
Sussex |
M6 Junction 7 & 8 N/B, Birmingham |
12,762 |
West Midlands |
Through further research by Confused.com, almost half (44%) of drivers admitted to getting a speeding fine in the past. Nearly 1 in 4 (24%) of those caught speeding faced a fine, with the average speeding penalty totalling £181.70. Amid concerns around the rising cost of living, sticking to the speed limit is not only critical for safety, but also prevents additional motoring costs.
Rather than paying a fine, almost 1 in 5 (18%) drivers chose to attend a speed awareness course. Meanwhile, 1 in 5 (20%) drivers received points on their licence as a consequence. Although varied, almost half (49%) of drivers said that they had received 3 points on their licence as a result for being caught speeding.
Speed cameras are still very prominent on UK roads, either in fixed sites, or mobile vans. But the original camera has been around for 30 years, otherwise known as the Gatso speed camera. The original camera, which flashes twice, takes 2 photos marking a speeding car against painted white lines on the road. It was developed by Dutch former rally driver Maurice Gatsonides. But how can drivers tell a Gatso camera apart from other speed cameras? Unlike others, a Gatso camera is rear-facing and photographs a vehicle from the near side of the road. This also means that, unlike other speed cameras, a Gatso doesn’t capture the person driving the car in the image.
According to Confused.com’s research, Gatso cameras are still top for catching out offenders. Of those who were caught, almost 1 in 3, (29%) have fallen foul to a speeding fine from a Gatso cam. This is followed by a mobile speed camera (26%). Almost a quarter (23%) of drivers said that they were caught by an average speed camera. This was followed by 1 in 10 (10%) drivers stopped by a policeman on the road and 6% caught by laser speed guns. And when it comes to where drivers were most likely to get caught speeding, most were caught on an A-road (27%), or B-road (21%). Nearly 1 in 5 (19%) were caught in a city centre, while 1 in 6 (17%) were caught speeding on a residential street. Only 1 in 10 (11%) drivers were caught speeding on the motorway, despite the various speed cameras in place.
However, for many, these penalties will have come as a surprise, as almost a third (31%) of offenders claim they didn’t realise they were over the speed limit. And more than 1 in 5 (22%) claimed they knowingly broke the speed limit because the road was clear. And 1 in 6 (17%) said they were speeding because they just wanted to get somewhere faster.
Drivers may not be aware of this, but most speed cameras have a tolerance of 10% plus 2 miles over the speed limit. This means that the camera won’t snap the driver until they reach that speed. For example, if the driver exceeds a 30mph speed limit, they won’t be fined for speeding unless they reach 35 mph. However, drivers should always consider the speed limit as the maximum speed, not a target speed. To clear up some of the myths around speeding fines and penalties, Confused.com has the answer to speeding FAQs.
For some, their speeding penalties will have come as a surprise as almost a third (31%) claim they didn’t realise they were over the speed limit. However, almost 1 in 3 (30%) said they knowingly have driven over the speed limit. More than 1 in 5 (22%) claimed they did so because the road was clear. And 1 in 6 (17%) said they just wanted to get somewhere faster.
Despite the risks, 1 in 5 (20%) said they believe there is sometimes an excuse for speeding. Nearly half (43%) would risk speeding in the event of an emergency. Furthermore, 1 in 3 (35%) said they believe drivers should be given a warning if caught speeding for the first time rather than a punishment. But 1 in 3 (34%) welcome new technology such as speed limiters to discourage drivers from speeding. Meanwhile, 1 in 5 (20%) believe the onus is on the council to do more to prevent speeding in their area.
But regardless of the reason, speed limits and cameras are in place to keep the road users safe. Fines and points are there to penalise those who potentially jeopardise road safety. In fact, almost 3 in 4 (72%) UK drivers told Confused.com that they’d been put off exceeding the speed limit again after getting a fine. So, it’s clear that cameras can work in deterring drivers from speeding.
Car insurance expert, Alex Kindred, at Confused.com, said: “A worrying number of drivers are being caught on the roads for speeding, whether it be by Gatso cameras or other speed cameras. Our research shows that nearly half of drivers (44%) have had a fine for speeding in the past. Although some motorists might feel that speed limits are an inconvenience, they're there to ensure our roads are safe for all.
"If caught speeding, motorists could land themselves with a fine, points on their licence or even a driving ban. In some cases, drivers could attend a speed awareness course instead, but the punishment depends on the seriousness of the offence. A speeding fine or points added on to your licence could also lead to an increase on your car insurance costs.
“If you're faced with a fine, there's a chance it could be calculated based on your salary, and may be heftier than you first think. Speeding fines are also often calculated depending on how far over the limit you are. If you're unsure on how speeding fines are determined, our speeding fine calculator can help.”
