Convictions for driving with defective auto parts hit a decade high
- More than 12 thousand motorists accumulated violations for driving with defective parts in 2022
- This is an 18% increase over the previous year and the highest convictions since 2014.
- Worn tires are the most common culprits – see how many were caught where you live
The number of motorists convicted of driving with defective vehicle parts last year reached its highest level since 2014.
Analysis of Ministry of Justice data reveals that 12,349 license holders committed offenses for getting behind the wheel with illegal tires, brakes and other components on their cars in England and Wales in 2022.
This is an 18 per cent increase from the previous year’s 10,478 convictions and raises serious concerns that Brits may be neglecting their engines.
See below how many drivers were convicted of driving with defective vehicle parts in the previous two years where you live.
Are we a nation that neglects our cars? Convictions for driving with defective vehicle parts hit a decade high, according to a new analysis of government data
Violations for defective vehicle parts also include bad steering and violating legal exhaust emission limits.
Of all the reasons for convictions, defective tires were the most common offense with 9,608 drivers caught with worn tires.
The regional breakdown of convictions showed Durham had the largest year-over-year increase, with 103 cases being a 255 percent increase.
The Met Police caught the most drivers with faulty components, racking up 3,053 last year, up 6 percent from the previous year.
And the majority of convictions outside of London were handed down in West Yorkshire, with 1,260 in total, up 16% from the 2021 statistics.
Ministry of Justice data reveals that 12,349 motorists committed offenses for getting behind the wheel with illegal tires, brakes and other components on their cars in England and Wales in 2022
Green Flag, which conducted the analysis, said the rise in cases of motorists driving with faulty vehicle parts could be linked to higher component prices and the cost-of-living crisis, causing more people to skip regular maintenance.
According to roadside assistance provider Green Flag, which conducted the investigation, there are many potential reasons why cases of defective parts have increased.
“Some motorists may now be turning to cheaper defective auto parts to offset the rising cost of repair parts, while others may delay repairs because they can’t afford the cost of maintenance” due to the cost of living crisis. . saying.
According to the Association of British Insurers, the cost of vehicle repairs rose 33% year-on-year to £1.5bn in the first quarter of 2023, the highest figure in a decade since 2013.
Motorists convicted of driving with defective auto parts may receive a three-point penalty on their driving license and a fine.
The average fine for those convicted of these offenses in 2022 was £270, slightly down from £301 in 2021.
However, the largest penalty for faulty vehicle parts breaches in 2022 was up to £5,000 – three motorists received a penalty of around this size last year, Green Flag said.
Katie Lomas, CEO, added: “Drivers may not realize they have the wrong parts in their vehicles, or they could be convicted, but the data shows it’s still a prevalent problem and one that drivers need to be aware of. account”.
“Ensuring that a car’s brakes, tires and steering are well maintained is not only an essential part of keeping a car roadworthy, but also ensures the safety of the driver, passengers and other vehicles on the road.
‘Motorists should regularly check these car parts and, if in any doubt, stop driving and have your car checked by a professional mechanic.’
| police force area | 2021 | 2022 | change from year to year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avon and Somerset | 182 | 263 | Four. Five% |
| bedfordshire | 126 | 122 | -3% |
| Cambridgeshire | 142 | 188 | 32% |
| cheshire | 83 | 149 | 80% |
| cleveland | fifty | 35 | -30% |
| cumbria | 62 | 70 | 13% |
| derbyshire | 217 | 395 | 82% |
| devon and cornwall | 235 | 282 | twenty% |
| Dorset | 79 | 97 | 23% |
| Durham | 29 | 103 | 255% |
| Dyfed Powys | 204 | 162 | -twenty-one% |
| essex | 182 | 194 | 7% |
| gloucestershire | 72 | 147 | 104% |
| Greater Manchester | 160 | 124 | -23% |
| gwen | 196 | 88 | -55% |
| hampshire | 121 | 145 | twenty% |
| hertfordshire | 275 | 265 | -4% |
| humberside | 250 | 219 | -12% |
| Kent | 164 | 265 | 62% |
| lancashire | 183 | 205 | 12% |
| leicestershire | 70 | 149 | 113% |
| lincolnshire | 95 | 196 | 106% |
| merseyside | 3. 4. 5 | 459 | 33% |
| metropolitan police | 2,880 | 3,053 | 6% |
| norfolk | 264 | 3. 4. 5 | 31% |
| north wales | 151 | 125 | -17% |
| north yorkshire | 131 | 224 | 71% |
| northamptonshire | 108 | 226 | 109% |
| Northumbrian | 94 | 91 | -3% |
| nottinghamshire | 158 | 129 | -18% |
| southern whales | 122 | 230 | 89% |
| south yorkshire | 164 | 242 | 48% |
| staffordshire | 183 | 242 | 32% |
| suffolk | 202 | 267 | 32% |
| Surrey | 126 | 118 | -6% |
| sussex | 124 | 192 | 55% |
| Thames Valley | 99 | 185 | 87% |
| warwickshire | 140 | 226 | 61% |
| West Mercia | 224 | 229 | 2% |
| west midlands | 498 | 420 | -sixteen% |
| West Yorkshire | 1,084 | 1,260 | sixteen% |
| wiltshire | 204 | 189 | -7% |
| Grand total | 10,478 | 12,349 | 18% |
| Source: Green Flag analysis of MOJ data |
