Thousands of foreign drivers escape speeding offences

By Gareth Roberts
|
8 October 2014

Foreign drivers have escaped 23,295 speeding offences since January 2013 – the equivalent of £2.3 million worth of speeding tickets - according to the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).

The figures were revealed following a freedom of information request to police authorities, which asked how many overseas motorists had been caught by speed cameras across England and Wales.

As foreign vehicles are not registered with the DVLA these speeding offences are not pursued.

The highest number of speeding offences registered by foreign vehicles were:

• Thames Valley, with a reported 3,580 offences and the highest speed recording of 102mph in a 70mph zone

• Merseyside, with a reported 2,477 offences and the highest speed recording of 87mph in a 70mph zone

• Warwickshire, with a reported 2,152 offences – no highest speed recorded

• Gwent, with a reported 2,090 offences and the highest speed recording of 99mph in a 70mph zone

• Kent, with a reported 1,954 offences and the highest speed recording of 111mph in a 70mph zone

The Metropolitan Police that covers 32 London boroughs followed in at sixth position with a recorded number of 1,586 offences taking place across the Greater London area, with a high speed recording of 98mph on the A406 North Circular Road, southbound – a 50mph zone.

The top recorded speeds came in from:

• Kent on the M25 with the highest speed of 111mph in a 70mph zone

• Surrey on the A3 Hook Road with the highest speed of 109mph in a 50mph zone

• Thames Valley, leading to Aston Clinton with the highest speed of 102mph in a 70mph zone

• Hampshire with the highest speed of 100mph on the A31 in a 70mph zone

• Gwent with the highest speed of 99mph also in a 70mph zone

IAM’s director of policy and research, Neil Greig said: “The high numbers of oversees speeders on our roads show how important it is that the UK joins up with the rest of Europe to harmonise motoring offences and give the police extra powers to pursue dangerous drivers.

"Progress on this issue has been very slow and in the meantime thousands of drivers are avoiding fines and bans simply because their cars cannot be easily traced.”

More articles on:

Institute of Advanced Motorists - IAM

Author: Gareth Roberts

News editor

gareth.roberts@bauermedia.co.uk

01733 468314

Gareth has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist having started his career in local newspapers in the 1990s. Prior to joining Fleet News in 2008, he worked in the public sector as a media advisor and is currently news editor at Fleet News.

Comments (8)

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John Bailey - 08/10/2014 10:55

As usual the UK are behind France, where i was pulled over for speeding and had my passport taken off me by the Police until forced to go to a cash machine to withdraw money to pay the on the spot fine. This was for exceeding the lowered speed limit which they have when it rains!
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Ian Boyle - 08/10/2014 11:00

No surprise here. The UK in its infinite glory to support every other country when it comes to obtaining information on UK citizens, does not seek the same from them. I suppose we dont want to upset anyone by going after motorists from another country in case it upsets their human rights and the UK gets chastised for it as we are still apologizing for the days of the Empire
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Ivan Major - 08/10/2014 11:04

We have to accept that we cant operate the same system as France or anyone else as we are British and it would place the government in a very difficult position as we are still apologizing for the days under the British Empire so couldnt possibly upset the ROW by imposing our laws on their drivers in our country it would be against their human rights
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Lawrence Hill - 08/10/2014 13:47

The whole article is missing the point by focusing on the amount of money lost in unpaid fines. What about that the drivers of these foreign registered cars could bloody kill someone?
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Len - 08/10/2014 17:15

The registration number of a car does not reflect the nationality of the driver. If you buy a car with foreign plates you don't have to worry about speed cameras, parking tickets or the congestion charge. If your car is clamped, just leave it and get another. This has been a problem for years. In the Republic of Ireland they have Customs officers stopping cars to see whether foreign cars should be registered there, with swingeing fines for offenders.
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Mike - 08/10/2014 20:06

With the up-coming removal of the Toll barriers across the Dartford crossing and the use of number plate recognition cameras will a similar situation arise? Were have been told that they have good connections with the European authorities and can easily retrieve monies owed and fines. One questions then who's story is the more accurate. Does the Dartford Crossing operators really have these connections and if so why don't the Police Authorities? The Dartford Crossing fee for a normal car is only £2. will they really make the effort to pursue the Toll Dodgers across Europe?
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Barry - 09/10/2014 07:09

Number plate recognition is now used extensively, on our motorway and 'A' road systems. Why can't these be linked to the main ferry ports, were the same cameras are in operation. With the offending motorists, pulled over, and as happened to John Bailey. Their passport and vehicle impounded, until they paid the fine. Or have the powers that be, not thought of this?
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AJB - 20/10/2014 12:38

German registered vehicles offending in France receive notices in German. German vehicles offending in UK (congestion charge/LEZ zone) receive notices in German. UK plated vehicles offending in Hungary/Switzerland receive notices so with a bit of effort, these fines can be managed. As for 98/mph on the A406 - very impressive !
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