The top 20 roads in Kent for speeding revealed as motorists hit with £7m worth of fines in a year
Published: 11:37, 29 August 2024
Updated: 12:32, 29 August 2024
Kent Police has issued £7million worth of speeding fines in the last year alone as the 20 worst roads for speeding in the county are revealed.
Over the last year, 21,135 drivers were clocked speeding by a fixed speed camera and a further 13,629 by a mobile van across the main hotspots.
However, the total number of motorists caught out actually fell by 12.5%, from 82,288 fines dished out across 2021/22 to 71,961 last year.
The new data was revealed following freedom of information requests sent by law firm Legal Expert to every police force asking for the number of speeding fines issued over the last three years between April 6 and April 5.
The latest figures show police in Kent have handed out 233,000 speeding fines, totalling £23million over the last three years.
However, the total number of fines actually declined overall with police issuing 82,288 fines to motorists across 2021/22, and a further 79,018 the following year.
The minimum penalty for speeding is an £100 fine and three penalty points added to a driver’s licence, according to government guidelines.
Motorists who receive 12 or more points within three years can be disqualified from driving.
Within two weeks of a vehicle being caught speeding, the registered keeper will be sent a ‘Notice of Intended Prosecution,’ issued by the police informing a driver they intend to prosecute for a motoring offence.
The new data also revealed the 20 roads in Kent where the most fines were handed out between April 2023 and April 2024...
1 – M25 Clockwise Junction 5 to Clacket Lane Services, Westerham/M25 Anti-Clockwise Clacket Lane Services to Junction 5
8,836 speeding fines were handed out.
Assuming each was paid at £100, a total of £883,600 would be eligible to be collected.
2 – M25 Clockwise, Swanley/M25 anti-clockwise, Swanley
7212 speeding fines were handed out.
Assuming each was paid at £100, a total of £721,200 would be eligible to be collected.
3 – A229 Chatham Road, Boxley
4905 speeding fines were handed out.
Assuming each was paid at £100, a total of £490,500 would be eligible to be collected.
4 – A282 Dartford Tunnel Approach Road/ A282 Dartford East/West Tunnels
3841 speeding fines were handed out.
Assuming each was paid at £100, a total of £384,100 would be eligible to be collected.
5 – A249 Detling
2445 speeding fines were handed out.
Assuming each was paid at £100, a total of £244,500 would be eligible to be collected.
6 – A229 Loose Road Near Plains Avenue Maidstone
1742 speeding fines were handed out.
Assuming each was paid at £100, a total of £174,200 would be eligible to be collected.
7 – M20 London Bound, Junctions 4-3, West Malling
1439 speeding fines were handed out.
Assuming each was paid at £100, a total of £143,900 would be eligible to be collected.
8 – A228 Ashton Way, West Malling
1437 speeding fines were handed out.
Assuming each was paid at £100, a total of £143,700 would be eligible to be collected.
9 – M20 Coastbound, Junction 8 to 9, Ashford/ M20 Londonbound, Junction 9 to 8, Ashford
1430 speeding fines were handed out.
Assuming each was paid at £100, a total of £143,000 would be eligible to be collected.
10 – Hoath Way, Gillingham
1384 speeding fines were handed out.
Assuming each was paid at £100, a total of £138,400 would be eligible to be collected.
11 – M2 A carriageway, Ospringe/ M2 B carriageway, Ospringe
1012 speeding fines were handed out.
Assuming each was paid at £100, a total of £101,200 would be eligible to be collected.
12 – Bradbourne Vale Road, Sevenoaks
969 speeding fines were handed out.
Assuming each was paid at £100, a total of £96,900 would be eligible to be collected.
13 – A299 Thanet Way, Whitstable
958 speeding fines were handed out.
Assuming each was paid at £100, a total of £95,800 would be eligible to be collected.
14 – A2050 Rheims Way, Canterbury
894 speeding fines were handed out.
Assuming each was paid at £100, a total of £89,400 would be eligible to be collected.
15 – A26, Hadlow
881 speeding fines were handed out.
Assuming each was paid at £100, a total of £88,100 would be eligible to be collected.
16 – Maidstone Road, Borstal
849 speeding fines were handed out.
Assuming each was paid at £100, a total of £84,900 would be eligible to be collected.
17 – A264 Pembury Road, Tunbridge Wells
755 speeding fines were handed out.
Assuming each was paid at £100, a total of £75,500 would be eligible to be collected.
18 – A259 Hythe Road, Dymchurch
649 speeding fines were handed out.
Assuming each was paid at £100, a total of £64,900 would be eligible to be collected.
19 – A229 City Way, Rochester
649 speeding fines were handed out.
Assuming each was paid at £100, a total of £64,900 would be eligible to be collected.
20 – A227 Wrotham Road, near Huntingfield Road, Meopham
647 speeding fines were handed out.
Assuming each was paid at £100, a total of £64,700 would be eligible to be collected.
READ MORE: The five speed cameras in Kent making the most money out of motorists
Kent Police says the money from the fines goes straight to His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS).
Inspector Dave Crompton from the Roads Policing Unit said: “Speeding is one of the ‘fatal factors’ that contribute to the highest number of road collisions resulting in deaths and serious injuries, along with not wearing a seatbelt, driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs, and using a mobile phone or other electronic device at the wheel.
“Tackling each of these offences is a priority for Kent Police as part of our commitment to Kent County Council’s Vision Zero strategy, which aims to drastically reduce the number of serious and fatal collisions on our roads, and we will continue to take action against drivers who break the law as part of our daily business.
“Our message to all motorists is a simple one – protect yourself and others by sticking to the speed limit.”
New transport minister Louise Haigh has suggested traffic limits should be “entirely up for local areas to decide” with a more relaxed approach to councils introducing restrictions.
The last Conservative administration had previously pushed back with a manifesto policy to scrap controversial 20mph restrictions introduced in Wales announced during the General Election.
However, Labour’s Ms Haigh appears set to allow local authorities to make up their own minds and introduce 20mph roads as they see fit.
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Charlotte Phillips