Top 10 speed cameras most likely to catch drivers
A record number of motorists[1], almost 10,000 every DAY, are being snapped by speed cameras - as a survey reveals the places where drivers are most likely to get caught. New figures show police[2] speed cameras snared 3,419,000 drivers in 2023 - the last whole year for which statistics are available - a record high and a 14percent rise on the figure for 2022. The Home Office stats show 883,000 accepted a GBP100 fixed penalty fine and three points on their licence, while 1.5million drivers opted to pay around GBP100 to avoid three points and took a driver education course.
Just these drivers alone would have been hit in the pocket to the tune of almost GBP250million for their speeding misdemeanours. Another 286,000 drivers' offences were considered so bad - either because their speed was too high, or they already had a string of speeding convictions to their name - that they were sent to court. The rest of the offences were dealt with in some other way or were cancelled because police couldn't track down the driver or the vehicle was on an emergency call.
A separate survey uncovered the spots on our road network where drivers were caught the most times over the last three years by police-controlled speed cameras. The one that caught the most drivers in that time was a speed camera positioned on the M6 in Birmingham on the northbound section between J7 and J8. It managed to snare 36,438 drivers between 2021 and 2023 meaning it caught almost 250 speeding motorists every week.
Also, on the list of sites that caught the most drivers was a stretch of the M25 near Clacket Lane services, the northbound approach to the Dartford Tunnel and Garston Way, in Merseyside. Other sites that tripped up speeding drivers were the M4 eastbound, near Bristol, that caught 21,129, the M1 northbound near Sheffield, which caught 19,918 motorists and the A1081 road heading away from Luton Airport, which snared 19,908 vehicles. A string of police forces refused to reveal details of specific cameras saying that it could lead to vandal attacks at the sites.
The Metropolitan Police force revealed it had one average camera on the A406 North Circular Road, in Neasden, that was responsible for seeing 38,000 people attending speed awareness courses over the three years - meaning it probably snapped at estimated 60,000 speeders. Surrey police[3] also only gave details relating to groups of speed cameras saying a batch on the M25 between J7 and J16 caught 59,807 speeders, while a section of the M3 between J2 and J4a, near Camberley, trapped 40,684 vehicles. Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for The AA, said; "Drivers accept the need for speed cameras, and acknowledge that they play an important role in policing our roads.
"However, the roads cannot be policed by cameras alone. After all, the reason someone could be speeding is because they are under the influence of drink or drugs, therefore needing someone to stop them in the act. The AA has called for 1,000 more cops in cars to make potential speeders think again, whilst also stopping the most dangerous cases before something more tragic happens."
Top speed traps in three years to Dec 2023
- West Midlands M6 Btw J7 & J8 Northbound, Birmingham 36,438
- Merseyside GarstonWay/Dock Road, Liverpool 34,585
- Kent M25 Clockwise Jn5 Clacket Lane Services 32,929
- Leicestershire A5460 Narborough Rd/ Fullhurst Avenue, Leicester 32,704
- Warwickshire M6 J3a to Corley southbound 31,407
- Sussex A270 Lewes Rd, Brighton 31,396
- Kent A282 Dartford Tunnel Approach Road 28,442
- West Mercia A518 Trench Lock, Telford 24,279
- Lincolnshire A1434 Bunkers Hill, Lincoln 21,819
- Merseyside Leeds Street/Vauxhall Road, Liverpool 21,660