Brits are cheating speed cameras

14 May 2005

Sneaky Brits are cheating the speed cameras by swapping licence points with their partners, according to new research released today.

The report commissioned by Churchill Car Insurance reveals that 10 million* drivers would swap points with their nearest and dearest, rather than taking the points themselves.

Speed cameras capture the licence plate, but not necessarily the driver, so Brits said that if they reached nine points, they would ask their partner to take the next three points to allow them to keep their licence.

Cars have become such an important part of modern life that drivers cannot face the thought of living without their wheels. The main reason Brits point swap is to allow them to continue working, as 14 per cent say that they would have to give ....cont/

up their job if they lost their driving licence.

With 16 per cent of drivers in the survey having gained speeding points in the last five years, the notion of trading points has become so common that that 13 per cent of respondents either didn’t know that it is illegal or were unsure of the law**.

Darren McCauley, Head of Car Insurance at Churchill said, “People have become so dependent on their cars that they will go to great lengths to avoid a driving ban. Unless driving habits change, speeding will become a real threat to the modern motorist.”

It’s not only speeding offences that people are willing to take the blame for. Fifteen per cent of motorists said they would be willing to take the rap for their partner caught on camera, driving in a bus lane and 13 ....cont/

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per cent would shoulder the responsibility for their partner skipping a red light.

Younger motorists are most likely to swap speeding points, as 57 per cent of 19 - 21 year olds said they would ask their other half to take points for them and 67 per cent would be prepared to do the same for their partner. This is not surprising as new drivers will lose their licence and go back to being a learner, after clocking up six points in the first two years of driving.

Point swapping isn’t confined to partners, as seven per cent of 19 - 21 year olds say that their parents have taken speeding points for them.

The survey also reveals that Scottish drivers are the sneakiest, with 41 per cent of Scots saying that they would ask their partner to take points for them in contrast with the most...cont/

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honest drivers in the West Midlands with just 16 per cent asking their partner to take the blame.

“With today’s busy lifestyles, it can be easy to fall into the trap of speeding. Motorists need to be aware of the penalties involved and potential danger associated with speeding, especially in urban areas,” said Darren.

Research carried out amongst 2097 drivers by 72 Point on behalf of Churchill Insurance in May 2005.

*30% of drivers in the survey would ask their partners to swap speeding points with them. 30% of 33 million drivers in the UK (DfT figures) = 9.9 million drivers

**Trading points is illegal and is treated as a serious offence, which could result in a custodial sentence