Recent trends for speeding convictions and totting up disqualifications

While the number of speeding convictions has risen markedly in recent years, the number of drivers disqualified under the totting-up procedure has not. This report, by Dr Jeremy Broughton of TRL, investigates the reasons by examining the pattern of speeding convictions. It finds that the response of the bulk of drivers to an initial speeding conviction has not changed over the years. The weak link between the numbers of speeding convictions and of disqualifications is explained by the fact that only 0.3% of drivers with an initial speeding conviction accumulate three or more further convictions in the next 36 months.