London home to UK’s ‘most prolific’ speed camera with almost 50,000 motorists fined, see full list

London is home to the UK’s ‘most prolific’ speed camera with nearly 50,000 motorists fined in the past 12 months, according to new figures. The data, which was revealed in a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by insurance comparison website Confused.com, asked police forces across the UK how many prosecutions had been brought against speeding drivers in the last year.

In London, a speed camera on the A40 between Long Dr and Wellands Gardens heading to the capital was revealed to be the ‘greediest’ in the UK, with a whopping 49,050 drivers prosecuted by the Metropolitan Police in just a year. This is followed by a speed camera on the M25 between Junction 7 and Junction 16 in Surrey that saw 23,134 drivers prosecuted and third spot belongs to a speed camera on the M4 between Junctions 20 and 19, with 18,317 prosecuted by the Avon and Somerset Police.

The FOI also shows that in the last year, cameras captured 1.74 million speeding offences across the UK, with drivers paying a staggering £45.7 million in fines. However, the FOI request discovered that only 457,232 of the 1.74 million motorists arrested were forced to pay a £100 fine and three penalty points on their licence.

And instead of paying a fine, 698,115 drivers enrolled in a speed awareness course. This typically costs around £100 for enrolment, but means the participant doesn’t get any penalty points. The worst offending drivers could be taken to court and get an even more severe punishment, with fines potentially as a percentage of their salary.

Car insurance expert at Confused.com, Alex Kindred, said:”A worrying number of drivers are being caught on the roads for speeding, whether it be by Gatso cameras or other speed cameras. Our research shows that nearly half of drivers (44%) have had a fine for speeding in the past.

“Although some motorists might feel that speed limits are an inconvenience, they’re there to ensure our roads are safe for all. If caught speeding, motorists could land themselves with a fine, points on their licence or even a driving ban.

“In some cases, drivers could attend a speed awareness course instead, but the punishment depends on the seriousness of the offence. A speeding fine or points added on to your licence could also lead to an increase on your car insurance costs.

“If you’re faced with a fine, there’s a chance it could be calculated based on your salary, and may be heftier than you first think. Speeding fines are also often calculated depending on how far over the limit you are. If you’re unsure on how speeding fines are determined, our speeding fine calculator can help.”

Full list of most prolific speed cameras in the UK

• A40 between Long Drive and Wellands Gardens, London - 49,050 fines
• M25 Junction 7-16, Surrey - 23,134 fines
• M4 Junction 20-19, Bristol - 18,317 fines
• A5460 Narborough Road, Leicester, Junction with Fullhurst Avenue - 16,634 fines
• M6 Junction 1-4 (Northbound and Southbound), Warwick - 15,410 fines
• Garston Way/Dock Road, Liverpool - 15,295 fines
• M5 Junction 4a-6, Birmingham - 15,062 fines
• A282 Dartford Tunnel Approach Road, Kent - 14,423 fines
• Lewes Road, Brighton, Junction with Coldean Lane, Sussex - 14,172 fines
• M6 Junction 7 and 8, northbound, Birmingham - 12,762 fines