According to research commissioned by RAC Foundation, nearly 200,000 motorists were caught over the limit in Avon and Somerset in 2017/18, compared to just over 1,000 in neighbouring Wiltshire, the least speedy region.
In total, 2.3 million speeding offences were registered in England and Wales during the period – an average of four drivers being caught every minute.
The news comes just days after it was announced new EU rules could see all new cars in the UK fitted with speed limiters from 2022 to stop them breaking the speed limit.
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The research included analysis of Home Office data by Dr Adam Snow, a criminal law lecturer based at Liverpool John Moores University.
West Yorkshire police caught the second highest number of speeders, clocking 174,796, while 139,318 were caught in London by the Metropolitan and City of London police.
At the other end of the scale, after Wiltshire (1,191 offenders), Durham (8,802) and Derbyshire (10,480) were the areas with the fewest motorists caught speeding.
Police constabularies with the most speeding offences detected:
| Rank | Police force | Speeding offences detected 2017-18 | % change 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avon and Somerset | 199,337 | 8% |
| 2 | West Yorkshire | 174,796 | 42% |
| 3 | Metropolitan Police (including City of London) | 139,318 | 58% |
| 4 | Thames Valley | 131,401 | -5% |
| 5 | Greater Manchester | 101,421 | -16% |
Police constabularies with the least speeding offences detected:
| Rank | Police force | Speeding offences detected 2017-18 | % change 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wiltshire | 1,191 | 20% |
| 2 | Durham | 8,802 | 18% |
| 3 | Derbyshire | 10,480 | 3% |
| 4 | Cleveland | 11,308 | -16% |
| 5 | Kent | 18,878 | 3% |
RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding said while factors like road type and traffic volume have an impact on figures, the priorities of local police forces will also dictate how many speeders are caught.
He said: “It is the job of police and crime commissioners, and chief constables, to target resources appropriately, recognising the issues of greatest local concern.
“Changes and variations in the numbers of offences detected will reflect not just driver behaviour but also the extent of enforcement activity in any one year.”
He added: "Drivers tempted to flout the law should recognise that any targeted crackdown on speeding to curtail risky behaviour could swiftly be repeated if those reckless attitudes start to re-emerge."
Copyright Press Association 2019. Motoring News articles do not reflect the RAC's views unless clearly stated.
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