New government figures on road policing in England and Wales have revealed both the scale of enforcement activity on Britain’s roads and the growing pressures facing those tasked with keeping them safe.

The latest data, published by the Home Office, shows that 2,934,790 motoring offences were recorded in 2024—the highest level since 2011 and a 9% increase on the previous year.

On the road

At the heart of the figures is the continued reliance on proactive policing measures. A total of 167,095 roadside breath tests were carried out, broadly in line with 2023, underlining ongoing efforts to tackle drink and drug driving—key contributors to serious collisions.

Speeding remains by far the most common offence. The data show 2,536,194 speeding offences, accounting for 86% of all motoring offences and marking a 9% year-on-year rise, as well as the highest figure recorded in over a decade.

Wider enforcement activity also remains significant, with police issuing fixed penalty notices for offences such as mobile phone use and failure to wear a seatbelt. Around 51% of offences resulted in driver retraining, 37% in fixed penalties, and 12% in court action, reflecting a broad mix of enforcement approaches.

Safe and secure

These measures form a central part of Britain’s “Safe System” approach to road safety, which aims to reduce human error and prevent fatal and serious injuries through a combination of enforcement, education and engineering.

However, the figures come against a backdrop of declining resources. Separate analysis shows the number of dedicated roads policing officers has fallen by around 21% between 2015 and 2025, raising concerns about the visibility of enforcement and its deterrent effect.

Road policing units play a wider role beyond issuing penalties, including responding to collisions, managing incidents and tackling offences such as uninsured driving and organised crime linked to the road network.

Despite these pressures, enforcement remains a cornerstone of road safety policy. The figures sit alongside government targets to cut road deaths and serious injuries by 65% by 2035, with policing seen as a key tool in influencing driver behaviour.

Keep positive

Motoring and road safety groups say the data highlights both the importance of enforcement and the risks posed by reduced capacity.

The RAC said visible policing is essential to deterring unsafe behaviour. A spokesperson said, “Drivers are far less likely to take risks if they believe there is a real chance of being caught. Consistent, visible enforcement is absolutely key.”

The AA described road policing as a “critical frontline service” under pressure, warning that technology cannot replace officers on the ground. “Roads policing units don’t just enforce the law—they deal with collisions, remove dangerous drivers and keep traffic moving,” it said.

Campaign group Brake said enforcement must be properly funded as part of a wider strategy. “We know that enforcement saves lives, but it must be supported alongside education and safer road design,” a spokesperson said.

The Road Safety Foundation called for more targeted use of data to tackle high-risk behaviours, while IAM RoadSmart emphasised the need for long-term behavioural change through driver education.

The RAC Foundation said enforcement remains one of the most immediate ways to influence behaviour, but must be part of a coordinated strategy.

Committed to crime

With government targets for reducing deaths and serious injuries becoming more ambitious, campaigners say the message from the latest figures is clear: without sustained investment in road policing, progress on road safety could be harder to achieve.

The number of actual road traffic officers on the road has reduced substantially over the last decade, and with it has come a greater reliance on technology.

As with all areas of modern life, especially with the rise of powerful AI tech, smart technology will undoubtedly play an even greater role in policing and traffic policing.

But the presence of physical police officers remains essential to improving road safety.

While ministers may unveil greater investment in road policing, most road safety professionals agree that more police officers on the road are necessary alongside efficient, effective technology.

The figures also underline the growing role of data in shaping road safety policy.

By tracking trends in offences and behaviour, authorities can identify emerging risks and respond with targeted campaigns.

For example, increases in mobile phone use while driving or non-compliance with seatbelt laws can prompt targeted campaigns, while patterns in drink-driving offences can inform seasonal enforcement efforts.

Tools of the trade

Government officials say the data demonstrates that Britain’s road safety system remains robust but evolving.

While overall casualty numbers have fallen significantly over the long term, progress has slowed in recent years, prompting renewed focus on enforcement and behaviour change.

In response, ministers have pledged continued investment in policing and road safety initiatives, alongside broader reforms to modernise the police service and improve efficiency.

However, road safety professionals and motoring organisations all agree that the presence of road traffic police officers is essential, and investment is needed to reverse the cuts over the last decade.

The power of AI tech is highly efficient, effective and evolving – the success of AI roadside cameras that detect motorists using mobile phones or not wearing a seatbelt is testament to that – but it should not be used as a tool to cut police officers, but instead, be seen as a useful tool alongside them id we wish to deter and reduce crimina behaviour on our roads and improve road safety.

Read the full report here.