Almost a Third of Drivers Reoffend After Attending Speed Awareness Course

4 min read
  • 29% of motorists say they have attended a speed awareness course, yet almost a third (31%) went on to reoffend
  • Fixed Penalty Notices for speeding and attendance at speed awareness courses both hit new highs
  • Court convictions for speeding reached record levels in 2025
  • Speed remains the leading factor in fatal collisions

 

New research1 by Churchill Motor Insurance shows that 29% of motorists have attended a speed awareness course, with 11% doing so in the last three years. However, despite the educational focus of these courses, nearly a third (31%) of attendees say they went on to receive further speeding tickets afterwards.

Analysis of Home Office data2 reveals that 2,536,194 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) were issued for speeding in 2024. The number of speed limit offences recorded increased by 9%, accounting for 86% of all FPNs issued in 2024. Speed awareness course attendance also surged, with more than 1.85 million3 motorists completing a course in 2025, the highest level on record, increasing 12% between 2024 and 2025.

With courses typically costing between £80 and £120, many drivers choose this option, if offered, over receiving the standard minimum penalty4 of a £100 fine and 3 penalty points. However, you can only take a course once every three years. Repeat offenders within that period, will receive a fine and  points, or face court for more serious speeds.

Ministry of Justice data5 shows that in the year to September 2025, there were 215,601 court convictions for speeding, the highest number of convictions on record, since June 2016. Of these, 60% (130,188) were detected by speed cameras. The average fine for speeding during this period was £213.

Kevin Mead, Head of Churchill Motor Insurance, said: “It’s worrying to see speeding offences continuing to rise, with many motorists reoffending even after attending a speed awareness course. Speeding has a devastating impact on our roads, contributing to countless avoidable collisions, life‑changing injuries and needless loss of life. With more than 8,000 speed cameras now operating nationwide6, the chances of being caught are higher than ever.”

In 2024, speed remained one of the most significant factors recorded in fatal road collisions. Using data7 collected through the long‑standing contributory factor system and converted to the Department for Transport’s new Road Safety Factors framework, analysis shows that 59% of fatal collisions with at least one recorded factor included a speed‑related element. This makes speed the most frequently recorded factor category, ahead of behaviour or inexperience (52%) and distraction or impairment (34%), reflecting the continued importance of addressing speed‑related risks on Britain’s roads.

All new cars sold in the UK now come fitted with Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology as standard. The technology uses GPS and camera‑based sign recognition to identify the speed limit, warn drivers when they exceed it, and in some cases automatically reduce engine power to help bring the vehicle back within the legal limit. While ISA is a significant step forward in road‑safety technology, only time will tell how effective it will be in reducing speeding offences and, ultimately, preventing collisions.

Kevin Mead, Head of Churchill Motor Insurance, added: “The introduction of innovations such as Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) offers real potential to encourage safer driving habits and help reduce the number of accidents caused by excessive speed. However, the majority of vehicles on our roads do not have this technology yet, so it’s important to stay vigilant when driving to ensure that you stay within the limits to help improve the safety of all road users.

“It’s essential that motorists inform their insurer if they, or anyone covered under their policy, commits a driving offence or has penalty points added to their licence. Failing to disclose driving offences could invalidate a policy or lead to claims being refused, so honesty is always the safest approach.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

 

1.       Research conducted by Opinium for Churchill Insurance on a sample of 2,000 UK adults from 23 January 2026 - 27 January 2026.

2.       Analysis of Home Office Data (2024). This data is the most recent available and was published in March 2026. Data for England and Wales (excl. MPS) Police powers and procedures: Roads policing, to December 2024 - Accredited official statistics announcement - GOV.UK

3.       Trends & Statistics | UKROEd

4.       Speeding penalties - GOV.UK

5.       Outcomes_by_Offence_tool_September_2025.xlsx

6.       UK’s 8,028 Speed Cameras, in One Map (With Google Links)

7.       Reported road casualties Great Britain, annual report: 2024 - GOV.UK

 

For further information, please contact:

Unni Henry 

Churchill Brand PR

Email : unni.henry@aviva.com

 

Churchill

About Churchill

Founded in 1989, Churchill is now one of the UK's leading providers of general insurance, offering car, home and pet insurance cover over the phone or on-line and is part of the Aviva Group.

Customers can find out more about Churchill products or get a quote by calling 0300 200 300 or visiting www.churchill.com