Warwickshire comes in at number three on a list of the worst driving offence hotspots in the UK.

It also ranks in the top 10 for speeding, parking and careless driving offences.

Motorists can be hit with harsh penalties and fines for committing driving offences - ranging from careless driving and running red lights to not wearing a seatbelt - and laws have been getting tougher in recent years.

The research, compiled by Regtransfers.co.uk, uses government data on driving offences, by type and by police force area, based on the number of registered drivers in each of those areas.

Based on 2.7 million offences racked up by British motorists between 2016 and 2017, it maps out the worst areas for law breaking on the roads.

How bad is it in Warwickshire?

In Warwickshire there was a total of 1,410 driving offences per 10,000 drivers during the year, making it the third worst overall in the UK.

A total of 50,222 offences were recorded.

It is also the third worst for speeding in the country with more than one in 10 getting caught for breaking the limit - 1,311 offences per 10,000 drivers.

The county also ranked at number nine for parking offences and careless driving offences.

Warwickshire is also the third worst for speeding in the country with more than one in 10 getting caught for breaking the limit

What about the West Midlands?

The neighbouring West Midlands region, which includes Coventry , fared much better in the rankings managing to keep out of the top 10 for each type of offence.

Overall there were 62,226 offences recorded which is just 397 per 10,000 drivers.

And the rest of the UK?

Avon and Somerset in the South West of the UK has the worst driving record overall, with a staggering 200,000 offences - that’s 1,785 offences per 10,000 drivers.

It also came out as the top area for speeding.

The neighbouring West Midlands region, which includes Coventry, fared much better in the rankings managing to keep out of the top 10 for each type of offence

Scotland is the most guilty for careless driving and driving unlicensed and uninsured cars - there are 139 offences for driving unlicensed and uninsured cars in Scotland.

Second from the top is London, who has less than half that amount at 61 offences

London comes out with the most driving offences for being on the phone (not hands free) - the capital has 52 offences for this per 10,000 people.

Putting others in danger

Angela Banh, of Regtransfers said: “The data reveals some alarmingly high figures for fixed penalty notices across the UK.

"It’s crucial to abide by the laws of the road, even if your car is in perfect working order, committing driving offences puts not only you, but other road users in danger.

"With British drivers now being hit with more severe punishments than ever before, we may see these numbers decrease in the near future.

"We hope the data will make people think twice next time they consider speeding, or driving while using their mobile phone. Drivers should always stay safe on the roads.“

You could get a fine of up to £1,000 for sounding your horn in stationary traffic
File pic.

Get in touch

Are you surprised by these figures? Do you think Warwickshire is particularly bad for breaking the law on the roads? Or do you know somewhere worse? Get in touch by leaving your comments below.

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