IAM seeks explanation for ‘dramatic fall’ in motoring offences

12.00 | 15 June 2012 | | 2 comments

The IAM is asking the Government to explain why the number of prosecutions for motoring offences fell significantly in 2011, compared with the previous year.

According to the IAM, the number of magistrates’ court proceedings for motoring offences fell by more than 12% – from one million in 2010 to 888,000 in 2011. And the number of people facing prosecution for motoring offences fell from 630,900 in 2010 to 566,800 in 2011, a 10% reduction.

Other findings include: the number of people facing prosecution for driving offences that resulted in death fell from 694 in 2010 to 614 in 2011; the number of people facing prosecution for causing death by dangerous driving fell from 282 in 2010 to 201 in 2011; and in 2011, 3,200 people were sentenced to immediate custody for summary motoring offences, a fall of 18.8% compared with the previous year.

Simon Best, IAM chief executive, said: “The recession and the expansion of awareness courses for offences like speeding could well be having an impact on these figures; more people are opting for courses rather than points, and this improves driving.

“While we fully support increasing and improving courses for some driving offences, we need to know why fewer drivers are being prosecuted for the more serious offences. The Government needs to explain the reasons for such a dramatic fall.”

For more information contact the IAM on 020 8996 9777.

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      You wonder whether this is, at least in part, because the vast reduction in traffic units and, it seems, the philosophy towards roads policing generally across the country. There appear to be some exceptions where individual forces still maintain pro-active traffic units, but in general this seems not to be the case. However, as mentioned in a previous item, with the reduction in traffic units the general standards of driving seems to be worsening because people are less accountable for their behaviour.


      Nigel Albright, TAUNTON
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      Maybe it’s because the police no longer have the resources to police the highways as they have done and been able to do so in the past. Otherwise it’s the CPS who won’t drag a case to court without a 100% possibility of getting a conviction. That would ruin there %age record, wouldn’t it.


      Bob Craven Lancs
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