More than 1.2 million motorists have been driving with active speeding penalty points on their licence, according to new DVLA figures.
The data obtained through a Freedom of Information request revealed that 1,231,744 drivers held speeding-related endorsements in 2025, marking the third consecutive yearly increase and a rise of 20 per cent since 2023.
In 2023, the number stood at 1,023,528 before increasing to 1,129,830 in 2024. The latest figures highlight the growing scale of speeding offences across UK roads, with more than 53.5 million driving licence holders currently recorded by the DVLA.
The findings also show thousands of motorists are now dangerously close to losing their licence altogether. More than 146,000 drivers currently hold nine or more penalty points, putting them at serious risk of disqualification if they commit another offence.
Under UK driving laws, motorists who accumulate 12 points within a three-year period can face a driving ban, although penalties can vary depending on the circumstances and severity of offences.
According to the DVLA figures, 132,126 drivers currently hold nine points on their licence, while 9,682 motorists have 10 points, and a further 4,810 are carrying 11 points.
The data suggested middle-aged drivers are among the worst offenders when it comes to speeding. Drivers aged between 45 and 54 recorded the highest number of speeding-related penalty points in 2025, accounting for 270,962 motorists.
Drivers aged 35 to 44 were close behind with 256,985 speeding endorsements, while motorists aged between 55 and 64 accounted for 251,086.
Roughly 1.2 million motorists have been driving with active speeding penalty points
|GETTY/PA
By comparison, younger drivers recorded significantly fewer penalties. Drivers aged 17 to 24 received 68,925 speeding-related endorsements, while there were just 40 cases involving under-17s.
The figures challenge the common perception that speeding is mainly an issue among younger motorists, instead suggesting experienced drivers are responsible for a substantial share of offences.
Men were also found to account for the overwhelming majority of speeding penalties across every age group.
In total, 856,511 male drivers received speeding-related penalty points in 2025 compared with 369,233 female drivers. This means men accounted for nearly 70 per cent of all motorists receiving speeding endorsements.
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| PAThe largest gender gap appeared among drivers aged 45 to 54, where 185,300 men received speeding penalties compared with 85,662 women. Standard speeding offences on public roads accounted for most endorsements issued between 2023 and 2025.
SP30 offences, which relate to exceeding the statutory speed limit on a public road, remained the most common speeding offence recorded by the DVLA. Motorway speeding offences, known as SP50 endorsements, were also widespread, with 17,566 cases recorded in 2025 alone.
The data also showed thousands of drivers were penalised for other speeding offences, including exceeding goods vehicle speed limits and breaching vehicle-specific restrictions.
Ben Welham, motoring expert at Marshall Motor Group, said the findings showed how widespread speeding offences have become across the UK.
Drivers were caught driving with penalty points on their licence
| PAHe said: "Speeding remains one of the most common driving offences in the UK, and these figures show just how many motorists are currently carrying penalty points on their licence."
Mr Welham warned drivers against treating speeding as a minor offence, stating that repeated incidents can quickly lead to much more serious consequences.
"While some drivers may see speeding as a relatively minor offence, the data highlights how quickly repeated incidents can build up and place motorists at risk of disqualification," he explained.
He added that experienced motorists were responsible for a large proportion of offences, particularly those balancing work and family commitments.