The first 30mph speed limit was introduced in built-up areas of the UK on March 18, 1935.
Ninety years is a long time to have one limit — which to many motorists has changed overnight to 20mph.
Habit is a key reason for so many people breaking the 20mph limit. But there is another — nearly half of Britons already admit to breaking the 30mph speed limit some or all of the time.
Several boroughs saw dramatic increases, notably Lambeth (6,771 → 37,319) and Kensington & Chelsea (4,292 → 30,140) in 2024/25.
These spikes suggest intensified enforcement or new camera deployments.
A40 E/B, north-west London (UB6 8SZ) — on a busy dual carriageway near Hanger Lane, one of the capital's busiest intersections — issued 50,000 speeding fines in 2024. That is equivalent to more than £5 million.
Camden, north London (NW1) — 135 speed cameras, equating to 61.91 per 100,000 people. That's the highest proportion in the whole of the capital.
Kings Road, Chelsea (SW6 2SX) — a single camera caught a record-breaking 851 drivers in one day last May. Believed to be the highest number of fines handed out by one CCTV device in Britain in a 24-hour period.
Westminster consistently led, with 29k (22/23), 34.8k (23/24), and 37.8k (Apr–Aug 24) offences.
Other boroughs with large totals include Lambeth (9.4k → 37.3k) and Kensington & Chelsea (1.9k → 30.1k), both surging in 2024/25.
Camden and Hackney also recorded high counts (Camden 18k in 23/24, Hackney 20k).
The first 30mph speed limit was introduced in built-up areas of the UK on March 18, 1935.
Ninety years is a long time to have one limit — which to many motorists has changed overnight to 20mph.
Habit is a key reason for so many people breaking the 20mph limit. But there is another — nearly half of Britons already admit to breaking the 30mph speed limit some or all of the time.
Several boroughs saw dramatic increases, notably Lambeth (6,771 → 37,319) and Kensington & Chelsea (4,292 → 30,140) in 2024/25.
These spikes suggest intensified enforcement or new camera deployments.
A40 E/B, north-west London (UB6 8SZ) — on a busy dual carriageway near Hanger Lane, one of the capital's busiest intersections — issued 50,000 speeding fines in 2024. That is equivalent to more than £5 million.
Camden, north London (NW1) — 135 speed cameras, equating to 61.91 per 100,000 people. That's the highest proportion in the whole of the capital.
Kings Road, Chelsea (SW6 2SX) — a single camera caught a record-breaking 851 drivers in one day last May. Believed to be the highest number of fines handed out by one CCTV device in Britain in a 24-hour period.
Westminster consistently led, with 29k (22/23), 34.8k (23/24), and 37.8k (Apr–Aug 24) offences.
Other boroughs with large totals include Lambeth (9.4k → 37.3k) and Kensington & Chelsea (1.9k → 30.1k), both surging in 2024/25.
Camden and Hackney also recorded high counts (Camden 18k in 23/24, Hackney 20k).