Police forces, councils and private firms are raking in more than £170 million from speed awareness course fees, Money Mail can reveal.
Campaigners say motorists are being treated like cash cows as lower speed limits ensnare growing numbers – who are forced to fork out to attend expensive courses or face fines and points on their licence.
A record 1.85 million motorists took a National Speed Awareness Course last year – up 12 per cent on 2024 and 70 per cent over five years, according to the not-for-profit body National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme.
Key to this increase is the rollout of controversial new 20mph speed limits. The number of drivers caught by speed cameras in 20mph zones has soared from 21,125 three years ago to 127,915 last year – a 505 per cent leap.
Speed awareness courses are promoted as a way to help motorists caught breaking a speed limit improve their driving skills without putting points on their licence.
