16 June 2025
Courts came down hard on drug-drivers last year with nearly 27,000 (26,924) drivers found guilty of the offence last year, an increase of 13.5% on the previous one, according to AA analysis of official statistics*.
Recorded drug-driving convictions were 11.5% less than prosecutions for the offence while for speeding the difference was 22% less. While the statistics are not considered a good indicator of conviction rates**, the stark difference between the two offences suggests drug-drivers can expect the full weight of the law to land on them. It’s a clear message to anyone who fancies their chances of escaping prosecution and conviction for drug-driving or being caught in the first place. Similarly, drink-driving convictions numbered only 15% below recorded prosecutions. This ‘under the influence’ offence still dominates with 47,357 prosecutions and 40,477 being sentenced.
Figures from the Ministry of Justice show that the biggest rise in drivers being found guilty were for vehicle tax offences, a 29.1% increase leading to more than 128,700 drivers being convicted.
Elsewhere, 146,831 drivers were convicted of either using (93,936) or keeping a vehicle (52,895) without valid motor insurance. A further 12,597 were punished for driving whilst disqualified.
The most common motoring offence taking up the courts’ time was for speeding, where 276,107 drivers sat in the dock, with 213,997 of those being found guilty. Also of note were the 82,810 sentenced for withholding driver details when requested, up 2.5% and another clear message from the courts.
Ministry of Justice court data 2022 - 2024 – Selected motoring offences analysed by The AA
|
|
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2023 Vs 2024 |
|||
|
Prosecuted |
Convicted |
Prosecuted |
Convicted |
Prosecuted |
Convicted |
Convicted comparison % |
|
|
Driving without VED |
56,402 |
51,546 |
107,692 |
99,747 |
139,264 |
128,780 |
+29.1% |
|
Using a hand-held mobile phone |
9,673 |
8,179 |
17,786 |
15,139 |
17,197 |
14,752 |
-2.6% |
|
Speeding |
310,050 |
232,504 |
275,800 |
213,094 |
276,107 |
213,997 |
+0.4% |
|
Driving without insurance |
113,337 |
102,316 |
105,921 |
95,410 |
103,352 |
93,936 |
-1.5% |
|
Keeping a vehicle without insurance |
47,662 |
40,399 |
69,512 |
58,712 |
62,662 |
52,895 |
-9.9% |
|
Drink driving offences |
52,618 |
46,026 |
49,681 |
42,955 |
47,357 |
40,477 |
-5.8% |
|
Drug driving offences |
27,464 |
24,184 |
26,960 |
23,717 |
30,412 |
26,924 |
+13.5% |
|
Failure to comply with red lights, signs etc |
14,186 |
12,024 |
15,619 |
13,359 |
16,022 |
13,576 |
+1.6% |
|
Driving without due care and attention |
22,456 |
18,243 |
20,397 |
16,453 |
19,784 |
15,901 |
-3.4% |
|
Driving whilst disqualified |
15,250 |
13,950 |
14,075 |
12,802 |
13,857 |
12,597 |
-1.6% |
|
Not wearing a seatbelt |
11,184 |
9,852 |
10,905 |
9,732 |
10,166 |
8,959 |
-7.9% |
|
Keeper not advising who the driver was at time of offence when requested |
151,596 |
96,473 |
128,980 |
80,772 |
132,871 |
82,810 |
+2.5% |
|
ALLCOURTCASES |
1,807,208 |
1,414,266 |
1,938,131 |
1,500,829 |
2,061,020 |
1,567,251 |
+4.4% |
|
ALL MOTORING CASES |
973,430 |
773,382 |
977,357 |
794,699 |
996,422 |
812,314 |
+2.2% |
Of the two million court cases last year, almost half of those were for motoring offences, showing just how often drivers end up in the dock. The number of convictions was 81.5% of recorded prosecutions, pointing to very high likelihood of being found guilty, whether by a jury or magistrate.
"It is massively worrying that drug driving is becoming more prevalent."Aside from the range of sanctions such as a prison sentence for the most serious of offences, being disqualified from driving, penalty points issued on the license and fines, drivers found guilty of any motoring offence put themselves at risk of finding affordable insurance. Drivers have to declare any motoring offences for at least five years when seeking motor insurance, and a guilty verdict could mean some insurers be unwilling to provide a quote, or if they do, the premium may be offered at a significant cost.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for The AA, said; “It is massively worrying that drug driving is becoming more prevalent. While it is good that police forces are catching and prosecuting offenders, it is of great concern that more drivers are willing to get behind the wheel under the influence of drugs.
“Drivers arguing their case in court are likely to lose. Overall, the figures show the harsh reality that the vast majority of drivers sat in dock are then convicted. As well as the sanction given in court, those found guilty may find it difficult and expensive to find motor insurance in the future.
“We fear that these figures may not show the true levels of motoring crime on our roads. A reduction of cops in cars means some drivers are tempted to misbehave as they feel they can get away with it. Similarly, cameras can play a vital role in bringing cases to court, but they cannot stop a driver in the act and preventing something far more tragic.”
* Data taken from the following table All-Offences prosecutions and convictions data tool: 2017 to 2024 which forms part of the Quarterly Criminal Justice Statistics Criminal Justice System statistics quarterly: December 2024 - GOV.UK
** Official advice on interpreting the statistics warns:
Note 6 It is not advised to use this data to calculate conviction rate (the number of convictions as a proportion of the number of prosecutions). This is due to the Court Proceedings Database counting two separate records at two separate stages (one for prosecution, one for conviction). We cannot track the defendant throughout their court journey and an individual may appear at each court in separate years, or for a different principal offence at different stages. As a result, this rate is not an accurate measure of the proportion of prosecutions that result in a conviction.