One of the traffic violations that caused a 12% increase in penalty points

An increase in drivers caught by speed cameras is responsible for a 12% increase in the number of penalty points over the past year.

Figures obtained by Co-op Insurance from the Vehicle and Driver Licensing Agency show that drivers in the UK will receive 9.61 million points in 2024, up from 8.55 million in 2023.

The most common offenses were speeding on public roads and highways, followed by driving an uninsured vehicle.

The amount of penalty points issued for a violation indicates its severity. They remain on license for between 4 and 11 years.

Drivers who accumulate at least 12 points over a three-year period are usually disqualified from driving for at least six months.

Most speeding cases result in the offender being fined £100 and receiving three points or the opportunity to complete a speed awareness course if they have not done so in the last three years.

AA chief Edmund King described the rise in the number of points issued as “worrying”.

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He said: “This increase is due to the boom in speed camera offenses and the fact that a higher proportion of repeat offenders have already taken a speed awareness course in the last three years, so points cannot be avoided by going on another course.”

Mr King pointed to separate figures from the Home Office which showed that 2.71 million drivers were caught speeding in England and Wales in 2023, with 96 per cent of offenses caught by cameras.

That compares to 1.49 million in 2011, when cameras were responsible for detecting 89 percent of incidents.

Analysis by Co-op Insurance shows that last year drivers in the South West were issued at a higher rate than any other region in the UK per population, at 51.0 points per 1,000 people.

London had the lowest rate at 35.2, followed by Scotland at 35.3.

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These figures were obtained in response to a Freedom of Information request.

Paul Evans, head of motoring at Co-op Insurance, said: “Accumulating points for speeding and driving without insurance can lead to higher premiums and even driving bans, as insurers consider drivers a higher risk if they receive 12 points or more on their licence.

“So we encourage drivers to make sure they drive safely and make sure they’re covered so they can avoid fines, save money and reduce the risk of an accident while on the road.”

Penalty points in the UK every year

According to Co-op Insurance, this is the number of penalty points awarded to drivers in the UK each year from 2021: