British motorists face the prospect of clocking up £283 in fines on average during their time behind the wheel, recent research has revealed.
The total punishment for driving offences, including speeding and parking violations, works out at a staggering £10billion. Those in London rack up the highest lifetime tally, with an average of £680, while those in Northern Ireland tot up only £90.
The research, by insurance company Esure, found that 34 per cent of drivers have been fined for speeding at least once and 6 per cent have been caught three or more times. Nearly four in ten have been slapped with at least one parking fine and one in 14 are serial offenders with three or more tickets.
The survey of 1,017 motorists for the car insurance website found that more 30% of motorists are confused by the myriad of parking rules and regulations. Others admit they do not know many of the other highway laws which could lead to fines. Nearly half of men have been caught speeding and more than four out of ten have received a parking ticket.
That compares to just a quarter of women drivers penalised for breaking the speed limit and 27% who have been ticketed by traffic wardens. It leaves men paying out £152 on average for speeding and £111 on parking tickets while women will pay only £79 and £ 75 for the same offences.
The £283 average takes into account the fact that some drivers will have a near blemish-free record while serial offenders may clock up many thousands of pounds. About 7% of drivers have been fined at least once for disobeying road signs and 5 per cent prosecuted for traffic light offences.
Five per cent have been penalised for seat belt offences and 4 per cent for careless driving. Mike Pickard, esure’s head of risk and underwriting, said: ‘Running a car can be very costly, particularly with rising fuel costs. Avoidable charges for driving offences only make this more expensive.
‘Speeding and using a mobile phone while driving not only add points to a motorist’s licence but put drivers and other road-users at risk. Making changes such as slowing down and driving more carefully will not only help make roads safer but also leave you better off financially.’
The figures follow last week’s disclosure that speed cameras and red light traps brought in £87million in the year to March 2009 – the latest period for which figures are available.
Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond has vowed to ‘end the war on the motorist’ but road groups said they will be watching carefully to ensure the Coalition Government’s actions match his words.
You can avoid having to pay high London parking fees and fines and find free parking in London by using the Tube and our text service to find free parking near tube stations outside the congestion zone.
Simply text the word Parking and the name of a tube station OUTSIDE THE CONGESTION ZONE to 80039 and you’ll receive a text back giving you three locations near the tube, or the one closest to it on the same line.