by Jess Banham

The number of drivers paying their speeding fines has dropped by nearly a third since the start of this year.

That is because of a sharp increase in the numbers opting to take a speed awareness course.

Back in January, around a third of the 4,010 people caught speeding that month paid up, but in June - despite 400 more people being caught - just five per cent took the fine.

According to the Kent and Medway Safety Camera Partnership, it is because people would rather opt to take a speed awareness course, even though it costs around £25 more than the fine.

But Brian MacDowell, a spokesman for the Association of British Drivers, believes it is the easy way out as people try to avoid getting points on their licence.

He said: "Those courses are just designed to make you feel guilty about what you've done, i.e. exceed a speed limit. It's not really answering the crux of the problem."

According to figures from the Department of Transport, just five per cent of accidents are actually caused by speeding.

Mr MacDowell, of Green Hill Gardens, Herne Bay, added: "The largest contributory factor to accidents is failing to look properly, that's what we should be concentrating on.

"There's no incentive to improve your skills behind the wheel so very few people are undertaking advanced driving courses once they've passed their initial test."

Since the beginning of the year, residents in Kent have paid more than £250,000 in speeding fines and Mr MacDowell thinks the government should look at other ways to encourage safer driving.

He said: "A country like Spain actually offers positive points as well as negative ones so that if you have a year without accidents or convictions you can earn plus points, which encourages good behaviour."