The rollout of 20mph zones across Britain has been blamed for a surge in the number of drivers getting points on their licences to almost a million.
Last year’s total is nearly a third, or 32 per cent, higher than the 678,367 who received points for speeding in 2022.
Although some campaigners blamed the rise on a ‘culture of speeding’, others pointed out that the growing number of 20mph roads was confusing and had simply caught out otherwise law-abiding drivers.
More than a sixth of British roads now have a 20mph speed limit – 39,000 miles of the nation’s 246,500-mile road network, according to the transport consultancy Insight Warehouse.
In Wales, the Labour government cut the default speed on most residential and built-up roads in 2023 from 30mph to 20mph.
More than half of London’s roads have a 20mph limit, according to Transport for London, which is chaired by Labour mayor Sir Sadiq Khan.
In Leeds, dozens of roads are set to become 20mph. Other town halls across the UK have introduced the limit or are planning to.
While there is evidence that 20mph limits reduce drivers’ average speed, motorists complain that they are often introduced on roads where they are not needed.
The figures were revealed by the DVLA following a freedom of information request by the road safety charity IAM RoadSmart.
It found that 939,519 drivers in England, Wales and Scotland last year were given an SP30 endorsement – the code for breaking the speed limit. This excludes motorways, which have a separate offence code.
By contrast, 216,141 drivers were caught speeding on the motorway in 2025 – six per cent down on the previous year. This suggests more drivers are being caught on low-speed roads such as 20mph zones.
It may also account for the number of drivers attending speed-awareness courses soaring to a record 1.8million last year. They can opt to take the course in place of penalty points and a £100 fine.
Last year it emerged that police forces issued 488,599 tickets to drivers caught speeding on a 20mph road in the year to 2024 – an increase of two-thirds in a year.
Edmund King, president of the AA, said: ‘The increase in 20mph zones probably adds to those being caught on camera.’
Howard Cox, of the FairFuelUK campaign, said: ‘The war on UK motorists’ wallets grows exponentially. Recent anti-speeding policies introduced behind alleged safety reasoning is just a dishonest mask to fleece more cash out of the world’s highest-taxed drivers.’
The Department for Transport said three-quarters of drivers exceed the limit on ‘free-flowing’ sections of 20mph roads – those with no cameras, sharp bends, junctions or traffic-calming.
The average speed was 24mph, enough to trigger a speed camera.
BBC presenter Evan Davis was caught speeding in a 20mph zone. He said of his speed-awareness course: ‘Most of us had been speeding at something like 26mph.’
Nicholas Lyes, of IAM RoadSmart, said: ‘Speeding is one of the leading factors in the most serious collisions. We need a shift in mindset – speeding carries serious consequences, but the fact that it is so widespread indicates a cultural problem that needs addressing.’
