Despite the perception that more and more people are being ‘caught-out’ by speed cameras, new statistics out from the Ministry of Justice show that fines have fallen as the police and local authorities are encouraged to take a more lenient approach to enforcing the law.

Key findings from the report include;

• The number of motoring offences dealt with by official police action or penalty charge notice in 2005 was 13 million, down 3% from 2004.
• The number of parking offences dealt with by motoring fixed penalty notices was 3.2million in 2005, a 4% reduction since 2004.
• Obstruction, waiting and parking offences were the largest group, totalling 8.2 million in 2005
• Increase in the number of careless driving offences (up 35%)
• Men were more involved in acts of dangerous driving (including drink and drug driving), whereas women were most involved in obstruction, waiting and parking offences.

Commenting on the statistics Edmund King, Executive Director of the RAC Foundation said “This shows the outcry by millions of drivers has finally paid off and forced councils and police to exercise more discretion. There is no doubt that enforcement was getting out of hand, particularly with the use of speed cameras.

“The authorities have finally realised that showing a small degree of flexibility can be more effective than huge numbers of fines, even though they are making less money.”

(Source: Ministry of Justice (2005) Statistical Bulletin Motoring Offences and Breath Test Statistics)