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By Craig Hale
More than 3.7 million speeding offences were recorded on Britain’s 20mph and 30mph roads between 2023 and 2025, according to our new Freedom of Information research.
Analysis of data provided by 30 police forces across the UK shows offences on lower-speed roads increased by almost 26% over the three years, with police detecting nearly 286,000 more offences in 2025 than they did in 2023.
A further 317,897 offences were recorded during the first three months of 2026 alone - the equivalent of more than 3,500 offences every day.
The research also uncovered some extreme examples of speeding, including one motorist travelling at 116mph in a 30mph zone in Devon and Cornwall and another recorded at 89mph in a 20mph limit in North Wales.
More than 1.39 million speeding offences were recorded on 20mph and 30mph roads during 2025 alone, marking the third consecutive year of increases.
Annual offences rose each year:
Ben Welham, motoring expert at Marshall Motor Group, said: “Most 20mph and 30mph roads pass through residential areas, town centres and routes where pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users are more likely to be present.
“While speeding can happen on any type of road, lower speed limits are usually introduced because of the environment surrounding them and the increased likelihood of people sharing the space.
“Many drivers associate speeding with motorways or major A-roads, but these figures show it remains a significant issue on roads where lower limits are often in place to reduce risk in busier, more built-up areas.”
Devon and Cornwall Police recorded more speeding offences on 20mph and 30mph roads than any other responding force between 2023 and 2025.
The force recorded 351,015 offences between 2023 and 2025 – equivalent to around 320 speeding offences every day across the three years.
Of those, 297,405 offences were recorded on 30mph roads, while a further 53,610 were recorded in 20mph limits.
Greater Manchester Police recorded the second-highest total with 280,282 offences, followed by Nottinghamshire Police with 247,100.
Police force areas recording the most speeding offences between 2023 and 2025:
Although most offences were recorded on 30mph roads, 20mph zones saw the fastest rise year-on-year.
Police recorded 37,219 speeding offences in 20mph limits during 2023. By 2025, that figure had risen to 125,133 – a 236% increase in just two years.
20mph speeding offences:
The increasing rate of offending tallies with 20mph limits becoming more common across parts of the UK. In Wales, the default speed limit on many restricted roads changed from 30mph to 20mph in September 2023, meaning thousands of roads moved into the 20mph category.
A report from Transport for Wales shows the scale of the change, with the length of 20mph roads in Wales increasing from 870km before the rollout to 13,000km afterwards, while 30mph roads fell from 13,100km to 980km.
North Wales Police recorded the highest number of speeding offences in 20mph limits between 2023 and 2025, with 91,205 offences – more than one in every three recorded by responding police forces.
The force recorded just 109 offences in 2023, before the figure rose to 36,813 in 2024 and 54,283 in 2025.
Gwent Police also saw a notable increase, rising from 641 offences in 2023 to 6,159 in 2025.
Police force areas recording the most 20mph speeding offences between 2023 and 2025:
Some drivers were recorded travelling at extreme speeds on roads with 20mph and 30mph limits.
The highest speed recorded in a 20mph limit was 89mph in North Wales – more than four times the speed limit.
Meanwhile, a motorist was recorded travelling at 116mph in a 30mph zone in Devon and Cornwall.
Other extreme cases included speeds of 114mph in Leicestershire and 108mph in Bedfordshire.
Ben added: “The most extreme cases are particularly concerning. Travelling at over four times the speed limit dramatically reduces the time drivers have to react to hazards and increases the severity of any collision.”
By Craig Hale
More than 3.7 million speeding offences were recorded on Britain’s 20mph and 30mph roads between 2023 and 2025, according to our new Freedom of Information research.
Analysis of data provided by 30 police forces across the UK shows offences on lower-speed roads increased by almost 26% over the three years, with police detecting nearly 286,000 more offences in 2025 than they did in 2023.
A further 317,897 offences were recorded during the first three months of 2026 alone - the equivalent of more than 3,500 offences every day.
The research also uncovered some extreme examples of speeding, including one motorist travelling at 116mph in a 30mph zone in Devon and Cornwall and another recorded at 89mph in a 20mph limit in North Wales.
More than 1.39 million speeding offences were recorded on 20mph and 30mph roads during 2025 alone, marking the third consecutive year of increases.
Annual offences rose each year:
Ben Welham, motoring expert at Marshall Motor Group, said: “Most 20mph and 30mph roads pass through residential areas, town centres and routes where pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users are more likely to be present.
“While speeding can happen on any type of road, lower speed limits are usually introduced because of the environment surrounding them and the increased likelihood of people sharing the space.
“Many drivers associate speeding with motorways or major A-roads, but these figures show it remains a significant issue on roads where lower limits are often in place to reduce risk in busier, more built-up areas.”
Devon and Cornwall Police recorded more speeding offences on 20mph and 30mph roads than any other responding force between 2023 and 2025.
The force recorded 351,015 offences between 2023 and 2025 – equivalent to around 320 speeding offences every day across the three years.
Of those, 297,405 offences were recorded on 30mph roads, while a further 53,610 were recorded in 20mph limits.
Greater Manchester Police recorded the second-highest total with 280,282 offences, followed by Nottinghamshire Police with 247,100.
Police force areas recording the most speeding offences between 2023 and 2025:
Although most offences were recorded on 30mph roads, 20mph zones saw the fastest rise year-on-year.
Police recorded 37,219 speeding offences in 20mph limits during 2023. By 2025, that figure had risen to 125,133 – a 236% increase in just two years.
20mph speeding offences:
The increasing rate of offending tallies with 20mph limits becoming more common across parts of the UK. In Wales, the default speed limit on many restricted roads changed from 30mph to 20mph in September 2023, meaning thousands of roads moved into the 20mph category.
A report from Transport for Wales shows the scale of the change, with the length of 20mph roads in Wales increasing from 870km before the rollout to 13,000km afterwards, while 30mph roads fell from 13,100km to 980km.
North Wales Police recorded the highest number of speeding offences in 20mph limits between 2023 and 2025, with 91,205 offences – more than one in every three recorded by responding police forces.
The force recorded just 109 offences in 2023, before the figure rose to 36,813 in 2024 and 54,283 in 2025.
Gwent Police also saw a notable increase, rising from 641 offences in 2023 to 6,159 in 2025.
Police force areas recording the most 20mph speeding offences between 2023 and 2025:
Some drivers were recorded travelling at extreme speeds on roads with 20mph and 30mph limits.
The highest speed recorded in a 20mph limit was 89mph in North Wales – more than four times the speed limit.
Meanwhile, a motorist was recorded travelling at 116mph in a 30mph zone in Devon and Cornwall.
Other extreme cases included speeds of 114mph in Leicestershire and 108mph in Bedfordshire.
Ben added: “The most extreme cases are particularly concerning. Travelling at over four times the speed limit dramatically reduces the time drivers have to react to hazards and increases the severity of any collision.”
