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Written question asked by Fabian Hamilton (Labour) on Thursday, 11 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 June 2026 (named day). It was answered by Lilian Greenwood (Labour) on Thursday, 18 June 2026 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Road Traffic Offences: Speed Limits

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the penalty points system in deterring repeat speeding offenders.

Answer

The Department for Transport does not hold an estimate of the number of speeding offenders who go on to commit additional motoring offences. The Home Office, which publishes statistics on roads policing, has confirmed that this information is not held.

The penalty points system is designed to act as a deterrent. Penalty points are applied for a range of motoring offences, including speeding, and accumulate on a driver’s record. Drivers who reach 12 or more points within a three-year period are liable for disqualification.

Department for Transport research published in 2008 examined whether the threat of disqualification deterred drivers from speeding and found that it did. The research indicated that the threat of disqualification was effective, with relatively low reconviction rates, and suggested it may be a stronger deterrent than disqualification alone.

This cumulative approach over a three year period is intended to provide a longer lasting deterrent to repeat offending, across a variety of motoring offences, including speeding.

The Department keeps the motoring offences framework under review to ensure it remains effective in promoting road safety.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
8986
Session
2026-27
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Fixed penalties Road traffic offences Speed limits
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk