Nearly 100,000 drivers aged over 70 have been hit with penalty points on their licences, new data shows. The total has surged by 20% over the last two years, reflecting a trend of increased speeding enforcement across the UK.
Freedom of information data from the DVLA revealed that over 1.2 million motorists had speeding points on their licences last year. Middle-aged drivers are among the most likely to receive speeding penalties, with those aged 45-64 consistently recording some of the highest totals.
Drivers aged 45-54 represented the single largest group in 2025, accounting for 270,962 motorists with speeding-related penalty points. This was closely followed by drivers aged 35-44 (256,985) and 55-64 (251,086), highlighting how common speeding offences are among experienced motorists.
The data also shed light on older motorists: a total of 96,672 over-70s had points last year, and another 82,445 aged between 65 and 70. This comes as older drivers are set to face mandatory eyesight tests under tough new rules to ensure they are safe to continue driving.
Male drivers accounted for the majority of speeding-related penalty points across all age groups, with substantially higher totals than women. In 2025, a total of 856,511 male drivers received speeding-related penalty points, compared to 369,233 women, meaning men accounted for nearly 70% of drivers receiving points.
Ben Welham, motoring expert at Marshall Motor Group, which obtained the data, said: "Speeding remains one of the most common driving offences in the UK, and these figures show just how many motorists are currently carrying penalty points on their licence. While some drivers may see speeding as a relatively minor offence, the data highlights how quickly repeated incidents can build up and place motorists at risk of disqualification. The findings also show that speeding is not just an issue among younger drivers. Experienced motorists account for a significant proportion of offences, particularly those in middle-age groups who may spend more time driving for work, commuting or family responsibilities. Ultimately, it's a reminder that even relatively small speeding offences can have much wider consequences if they become repeated behaviour over time."
