1

Motoring Offence Statistics

for Northern Ireland

1st August 2019 – 31

st July 2020

Date of Publication:

24th September 2020

Frequency:

Monthly

Issued by:

PSNI Statistics Branch

Lisnasharragh

42 Montgomery Road

Belfast

BT6 9LD

PSNI Statistics

02890 650222 Ext. 24135

statistics@psni.police.uk

From 1st August 2019 to 31st July 2020, there were

45,654 detections for motoring offences in Northern

Ireland, a decrease of 10% on the 50,496

detections recorded in the previous 12 months.

The largest offence group recorded was speeding

offences with a total of 8,145 detections. This was

an increase of 2% on the number recorded in the

previous 12 months.

The highest speed detected by PSNI officers in the latest 12 months was 127mph, on the Moneynick Road, Randalstown and on Clanabogan Road, Omagh.

Insurance offences accounted for 17% of all

detections, a decrease of 251 on the number

detected from August 2018 – July 2019.

One in five motoring offences was detected in

Belfast City District from 1st August 2019 – 31st July

2020.

There has been a 50% decrease in the number of

vehicle test certificate offences when compared

with the previous 12 months. Automatic MOT

renewals coupled with reduced traffic volumes in

recent months due to COVID-19 will likely have

impacted on this decrease.

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Contents

1. Things you need to know about this release

2. Summary

3. Trends

4. Age and Gender

5. Offence group

6. Policing District

7. Further Information

We welcome user feedback on these statistics. This can be sent to the email address on the cover page or by

contacting us at the telephone number provided.

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Motoring offence statistics for Northern Ireland are collated and produced by statisticians seconded to the Police

Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).

PSNI Official Statistics documentation is available on the Official Statistics section of the PSNI website.

Coverage

This report provides statistics on the number of motoring offences detected by police in Northern Ireland from 1st

August 2019 – 31st July 2020. It does not include any detections by the NI Road Safety Partnership. Figures

relating to such detections through the Partnership can be accessed via the following link – NI RSP.

The range of disposals covered includes those offences dealt with by means of a fixed penalty notice (FPN),

speed awareness course and referral for prosecution. Statistics Branch developed the functionality to report on

prosecution referrals in 2017, at which point the figures were validated and reported back to 2011. Quality

concerns due to the introduction of different information systems prevented any further back dating of the figures.

This report presents the most recent motoring offence statistics based on figures that were extracted on 21st

September 2020. Referred for prosecution figures from 1st January 2019 onwards remain provisional and

therefore subject to amendment. The information is also available in tabular format in the accompanying

spreadsheets on the PSNI website.

Background information and details of the offences included in each offence grouping (Section 6) can be found in

the Motoring Offence User Guide on the PSNI website. Please note the figures refer to the number of offences

and not the number of persons detected as a person can be detected for more than one offence.

National Statistics Status

National Statistics status means that our statistics meet the highest standards of trustworthiness, quality and

public value, and as producers, it is our responsibility to maintain compliance with these standards.

These statistics were designated as National Statistics in March 2020 following a full assessment against the

Code of Practice.

Uses of the statistics

Uses of the statistics, based on user engagement, information requests and satisfaction survey feedback include

policy making and policy monitoring, performance monitoring, and public interest, by a range of users including

PSNI, Policing and Community Safety Partnerships (PCSPs), media and academics.

More detail can be found in the Motoring Offence User Guide which can be accessed via the motoring offences

statistics web page on the PSNI website.

Related statistics

Sources of motoring offences data for other domains include An Garda Síochána - Republic of Ireland and

England and Wales. Related statistics include Injury road traffic collision statistics and NI Road Safety

Partnership statistics.

1. Things you need to know about this release

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Table 1 shows that, over the last 12 months:

The number of motoring offences detected fell by 10% to 45,654

Non endorsable fixed penalties decreased by 19%.

Endorsable fixed penalties decreased by 2%.

Offences referred for prosecution fell by 10%.

Table 1 Number of motoring offences by disposal type, 1st August 2018 – 31st July 2020*

Number and Percentage

1

st Aug 2018 – 31

st

Jul 2019 1

st Aug 2019 – 31

st

Jul 2020

Change over last 12 months

Number %

Endorsable Fixed Penalty 12,228 11,923 -305 -2

Non Endorsable Fixed Penalty 7,528 6,068 -1,460 -19

Referred for Prosecution 29,460 26,563 -2,897 -10

Speed Awareness Course 1,280 1,100 -180 -14

Total 50,496 45,654 -4,842 -10

*Figures are provisional and subject to change.

Figure 1 Comparisons of disposal types for motoring offences between 1st August 2018 – 31st July 2019

and 1st August 2019 – 31st July 2020

Note that not all detections in the most recent months will have been processed at this time, particularly those referred for

prosecution.

12,228 11,923

7,528 6,068

29,460

26,563

1,280

1,100

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

1st Aug 2018 - 31st Jul 2019 1st Aug 2019 - 31st Jul 2020

Endorsable Fixed Penalty Non Endorsable Fixed Penalty Referred for Prosecution Speed Awareness Course

2. Summary

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The number of motoring offences had been steadily decreasing over a 8 year period from a total of 79,796 recorded in 2011 to 48,666 recorded in 2019 (see figure 2).

Figure 2 Number of motoring offences by disposal type: 1st January 2011 – 31st December 2019

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

FPNs Discretionary Disposals Speed Awareness Course Referred for Prosecution

3. Trends

Discretionary disposals removed as an

alternative method of disposal for

dealing with traffic offences on 31st July

2016

Discretionary Disposals introduced during

2011 as an alternative method of disposal

for dealing with traffic offences

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Figure 3 Number of motoring offences by age: 1st August 2019 – 31st July 2020

Figure 3 shows that those aged 30-49 years old accounted for over two fifths of motoring offences detected between 1st August 2019 and 31st July 2020, followed by those aged 18-29 (36%). Almost all (99.8%) of the unknown ages refer to non endorsable offences, which can be issued in the absence of the offender and do not require licence details to process, for example parking offences.

Males accounted for 8 in 10 of all motoring offences detected between 1st August 2019 and 31st July 2020.

1,343

16,421

18,781

6,586

835 1,688

Under 18 18-29 30-49 50-69 70+ Age Unknown

4. Age and Gender

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Table 2 Number of motoring offences by gender, age band and offence group1

1st

August 2019 – 31st

July 2020*

Number

Gender Age

Total Female Male Other /

Unknown Under 18 18-29 30-49 50-69 70+ Age

Unknown

Breach of signs & signals 85 232 15 6 76 97 54 8 91 332

Careless driving 859 2,752 0 96 1,234 1,363 737 178 3 3,611

Construction & use2 263 1,977 1 92 1,337 551 204 13 44 2,241

Dangerous driving 139 1,251 0 62 708 470 129 21 0 1,390

Drink or drug driving 573 2,408 1 32 890 1,488 531 41 0 2,982

Driving licence 566 3,282 1 118 1,504 1,761 416 50 0 3,849

Driving whilst disqualified 66 861 0 77 301 454 91 4 0 927

Failing to stop / remain / report collision 480 1,974 0 84 938 957 370 105 0 2,454

Fraudulent use / declaration 22 233 2 4 88 116 28 4 17 257

Insurance 1,303 6,445 5 231 3,130 3,479 819 92 2 7,753

L & R driver3 217 1,323 2 125 726 546 131 14 0 1,542

Miscellaneous 56 618 1 47 281 283 55 7 2 675

Mobile phone 616 2,821 0 23 746 1,838 763 67 0 3,437

Non motor vehicle 1 31 1 1 16 13 3 0 0 33

Parking 701 934 77 1 125 109 48 1 1,428 1,712

Pedestrian 2 51 0 2 23 18 8 2 0 53

Seatbelt 169 687 0 13 260 392 166 24 1 856

Speeding4 2,176 5,968 1 123 2,881 3,414 1,576 150 1 8,145

Vehicle TADA5 / tampering 114 1,069 0 188 540 399 54 2 0 1,183

Vehicle test certificate 476 1,745 1 18 617 1,033 403 52 99 2,222

Total 8,884 36,662 108 1,343 16,421 18,781 6,586 835 1,688 45,654

* Figures are provisional and subject to change. 1 Please note an offence group is made up of many individual offences. For the full list of offences and groups see the motoring offences section of the PSNI website.

2 Construction & use offences include defective tyre, defective exhaust, excess noise, incorrect form of registration mark and no number plate.

3 The offence 'L or R driver exceeding 45mph limit' is included in the speeding offence group. L and R driver = Learner driver and Restricted driver

4 This does not include drivers detected for speeding through the Northern Ireland Road Safety Partnership.

5 Vehicle TADA = Vehicle taking and driving away

5. Offence group

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Table 2 shows that the largest offence group recorded was speeding offences with a total of 8,145

detections, accounting for 18% of all detections for motoring offences. This was an increase of 2% on the

number recorded in the previous 12 months.

The highest speed recorded by PSNI officers in the latest 12 months was 127mph on the Moneynick

Road, Randalstown and on Clanabogan Road, Omagh.

In the latest 12 months, the NI Road Safety Partnership detected almost 6 times more speeding offences

than the PSNI (47,170).

There has been a 26% increase in the number of construction and use offences when compared with

August 2018 – July 2019. The increase is mainly attributed to an increase in the number of FPNs issued

for number plate type offences e.g. ‘Incorrect form of registration mark’.

Over half of those detected for mobile phone offences were age 30-49.

Almost one quarter of all female detections was for speeding offences.

There has been a 50% decrease in the number of vehicle test certificate offences when compared with

the previous 12 months. Automatic MOT renewals coupled with reduced traffic volumes1 in recent months

due to COVID-19 will likely have impacted on this decrease.

Almost one in five detections where offender was aged under 30 were for insurance offences.

Over three fifths of those detected for vehicle taking and driving away / tampering offences were age

under 30.

1 DfI traffic volumes

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Table 3 Number of motoring offences by month and offence group1, 1st August 2018 – 31st July 2020*

Number and Percentage

Aug 2019

Sep 2019

Oct 2019

Nov 2019

Dec 2019

Jan 2020

Feb 2020

Mar 2020

Apr 2020

May 2020

Jun 2020

Jul 2020

Aug 2019 -

Jul 2020

Aug 2018 -

Jul 2019

Change over last 12 months Number %

Breach of signs & signals 43 28 34 33 34 25 26 4 3 50 28 24 332 364 -32 -9

Careless driving 349 338 382 365 342 355 347 252 159 258 267 197 3,611 4,525 -914 -20

Construction & use2 154 110 214 192 138 150 180 127 115 282 312 267 2,241 1,781 460 26

Dangerous driving 143 113 119 105 115 125 103 83 139 120 120 105 1,390 1,641 -251 -15

Drink or drug driving 294 267 269 266 348 242 240 203 225 246 182 200 2,982 2,966 16 1

Driving licence 322 304 340 294 284 304 305 286 308 467 345 290 3,849 4,053 -204 -5

Driving whilst disqualified 85 88 102 76 64 91 71 65 64 86 69 66 927 1,114 -187 -17

Failing to stop / remain / report collision 287 216 218 238 286 225 222 210 140 177 128 107 2,454 2,936 -482 -16

Fraudulent use / declaration 26 20 22 25 16 21 24 15 22 28 19 19 257 283 -26 -9

Insurance 630 613 701 642 582 637 576 554 643 854 725 596 7,753 8,004 -251 -3

L & R driver3 132 97 165 145 88 112 102 106 144 155 160 136 1,542 1,487 55 4

Miscellaneous 73 47 52 53 53 52 59 47 70 70 54 45 675 695 -20 -3

Mobile phone 340 299 344 272 224 267 318 289 191 316 333 244 3,437 3,936 -499 -13

Non motor vehicle 1 1 4 5 5 1 0 3 4 4 1 4 33 28 5 18

Parking 100 163 243 159 124 153 130 79 61 239 223 38 1,712 1,909 -197 -10

Pedestrian 8 3 4 3 7 10 2 3 4 2 2 5 53 85 -32 -38

Seatbelt 69 51 80 85 54 63 77 58 58 93 74 94 856 1,042 -186 -18

Speeding4 597 674 772 576 333 681 656 467 520 1,210 1,022 637 8,145 7,989 156 2

Vehicle TADA5 / tampering 124 99 93 109 119 138 93 85 96 86 77 64 1,183 1,249 -66 -5

Vehicle test certificate 238 296 303 309 248 297 160 133 65 78 63 32 2,222 4,409 -2,187 -50

Total 4,015 3,827 4,461 3,952 3,464 3,949 3,691 3,069 3,031 4,821 4,204 3,170 45,654 50,496 -4,842 -10

* Figures are provisional and subject to change. 1 Please note an offence group is made up of many individual offences. For the full list of offences and groups see the motoring offences section of the PSNI website.

2 Construction & use offences include defective tyre, defective exhaust, excess noise, incorrect form of registration mark and no number plate.

3 The offence 'L or R driver exceeding 45mph limit' is included in the speeding offence group. L and R driver = Learner driver and Restricted driver

4 This does not include drivers detected for speeding through the Northern Ireland Road Safety Partnership.

5 Vehicle TADA = Vehicle taking and driving away

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Figure 4: Number of motoring offences by Policing District: 1st August 2018 – 31st July 2020

Figure 4 shows that one in five motoring offences was detected in Belfast City District followed by a further 15% in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon district.

Mid and East Antrim and Antrim and Newtownabbey were the only districts to see an increase in detections when compared with previous 12 months.

10,151

4,071

1,954

4,844

7,491

3,951

3,012

4,192 4,093

2,814

3,837

86

8,709

3,281

1,609

4,616

6,851

3,502

2,819

3,621 3,654

2,974

3,956

62

Belfast City Lisburn &Castlereagh City

Ards & NorthDown

Newry, Mourne& Down

Armagh City,Banbridge &

Craigavon

Mid Ulster Fermanagh &Omagh

Derry City &Strabane

Causeway Coast& Glens

Mid & EastAntrim

Antrim &Newtownabbey

Unknown

1st Aug 2018 - 31st Jul 2019 1st Aug 2019 - 31st Jul 2020

6. Policing District

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Figure 5: Rate of motoring offences per 10,000 population2 aged 16+ by Policing District: 1st August 2019 – 31st July 2020

2 Population figures sourced from Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Service (NINIS), based on mid-year population estimates for 2018.

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A User Guide providing detailed information on the motoring offences statistics is available on the PSNI website.

PSNI Official Statistics documentation is available on the Official Statistics section of the PSNI website.

Referred for prosecution

Police led prosecutions for motoring offences occur when the offence is of a serious nature and has no

corresponding fixed penalty or where multiple offences have occurred or where the alleged offender wishes to

have the matter(s) heard at court. Where an offending driver has already accumulated a number of penalty

points, to the extent that a driving disqualification is now in scope, such cases must be heard at court and will

consequently also be subject of a prosecution.

Fixed penalty notices

Fixed penalties originated as an administrative way to deal with simple parking offences without referring such

matters to the courts. Such was its success that it was identified as an efficient way to deal with minor road traffic

offences and was expanded to encompass these matters in the mid-1980s. With the introduction of penalty

points for traffic offences, the scheme was expanded to incorporate endorsable and non-endorsable offences.

Non-endorsable offences - meaning those which don’t result in points on your licence incur a fine of £30. Fines

for endorsable offences are £60 and three points. More serious offences such as driving without insurance can

incur fines of up to £200 and six points. Other fixed penalty offences include No MOT (£60) or Vehicle Excise

License (£60). Fine collection and revenue reporting are managed by the NI Courts Service.

The full list of offences and groups are published on the motoring offences section of the PSNI website.

Speed awareness courses

Speed awareness courses were introduced in Northern Ireland in 2010. Drivers, depending on the speed at

which they were detected, may be offered an opportunity to attend a speed awareness course as an alternative

to penalty points. The course which is available at eight locations throughout Northern Ireland and delivered and

managed by an appointed contractor must be attended within a period of 120 days from the date of detection.

Certain restrictions apply to who can qualify for the speed awareness course option.

Revisions

Figures for 2019 were finalised in March 2020. Figures from January 2020 onwards are currently provisional and

subject to ongoing quality assurance and minor amendment, primarily due to the time taken to process all

offences, particularly those referred for prosecution or completing a speed awareness course.

To demonstrate the scale of revisions, updated figures are provided in the table below:

Revision to January - June 2020 figures

Last Month This month Change

publication publication Number %

Endorsable Fixed Penalty 6,078 6,286 208 3.4

Non Endorsable Fixed Penalty 2,823 2,824 1 0.0

Referred for Prosecution 12,249 13,034 785 6.4

Speed Awareness Course 529 621 92 17.4

Total 21,679 22,765 1,086 5.0

7. Further Information