The FOI request was submitted by road technology specialist Ooono, whose analysis of police data paints a concerning picture for UK drivers.

Which areas saw the biggest increases?

Outside London, West Yorkshire Police issued the highest number of fines, with drivers in the region receiving 384,219 Fixed Penalty Notices, representing a 13% increase compared to the previous year.

London recorded the highest total of all, with 778,600 tickets issued during the same period. The rapid expansion of 20mph zones across the capital is cited as a major contributing factor to that rise.

Of the 24 police forces that responded to the FOI request, 22 reported an increase in speeding incidents when comparing 2024 figures to those from 2025. Only Warwickshire and Durham recorded a fall in the number of fines issued. Notably, however, Warwickshire still featured in the top five areas for Fixed Penalty Notices overall.

What are the penalties for speeding?

The consequences of being caught speeding in England and Wales depend on the severity of the offence.

For minor speeding offences, drivers will typically receive a fixed penalty of £100 and three penalty points on their licence. In some cases, they may be offered the option to attend a speed awareness course in lieu of penalty points.

More serious offences are referred to the courts, where fines are calculated as a proportion of the offender’s weekly income. These court-imposed fines fall into three bands: Band A, Band B and Band C, ranging from 50% to 175% of weekly earnings. Drivers may also receive between three and six penalty points, and in the most serious cases a driving disqualification may be imposed.

LEARN MORE: If you would like to know more about our speeding defence services and how Freeman & Co. can help your case, just click the link.

About Freeman & Co.

Freeman & Co. are a specialist firm of road traffic and criminal defence solicitors based in Manchester but with nationwide coverage.

Freeman & Co. specialise in a wide variety of road traffic cases, ranging from drink driving, speeding and mobile phone offences, to name but a few.

The firm was created by Nick Freeman, who has been dubbed “Mr Loophole” by the press for his technical legal ability and robustly challenging the prosecution.

Nick is well regarded as an expert road traffic lawyer and has successfully represented many high profile clients for a variety of motoring offences as well as criminal offences.

The firm of Freeman & Co. embodies the way Nick works, with minute attention to detail and challenging the prosecution at every turn.

If you are facing a road traffic matter or criminal offence and need the services of Freeman & Co. please call on 0161 236 7007.

Freeman & Co. are available for Police Station attendances and an experienced criminal lawyer is on hand to take your call.

If you would prefer to send a confidential email the please click here.

Our Details

Freeman & Co Solicitors
8 Oxford Court
Manchester
M2 3WQ

Tel. 0161 236 7007

Our Location

The post Speeding Fines Reach a Four-Year High Across the UK appeared first on Nick Freeman Solicitors | Drink Driving & Road Traffic Law Solicitors.

A Freedom of Information request submitted by Vauxhall found that 42% of councils in England, Scotland and Wales either already provide or intend to make cross-pavement charging available before the close of 2026. In total, 56 tier one councils are included in that figure, potentially giving millions of drivers a viable means of charging their electric vehicle at home.

Where do councils currently stand?

Of the 134 councils that responded to the FOI request, seven already have live cross-pavement charging schemes in place. A further 21 are in the trial stage, and 28 are planning a full rollout during 2026.

The research also highlights considerable inconsistency across the country in how councils handle applications from residents wishing to install cross-pavement charging. Costs for installation vary widely, with some local authorities offering the service free of charge while others levy fees in excess of £1,000.

Resident frustrations highlighted

The Electric Vehicle Association (EVA) England published a report in January 2026 setting out the frustrations experienced by residents attempting to navigate the process. These included a lack of clear information about available EV charging options, uncertainty about how to apply for cross-pavement charging, and lengthy waits to find out whether an application had been approved.

Eurig Druce, Managing Director at Stellantis UK, commented: “To allow drivers across the country to feel confident going electric, councils need to ensure they are providing drivers with as much clarity as possible about the options available to them, and how they can install EV charging outside their door.”

What is cross-pavement EV charging?

Cross-pavement charging allows a driver to charge their electric vehicle from home by running a charging cable through a self-closing channel installed in the pavement to a wall-mounted chargepoint.

There are two types currently in use. The more common option involves EV cable channels, often referred to as “gullies”, which are embedded within the pavement surface. These house the cable temporarily whilst the vehicle is charging; once complete, the cable is removed.

The second option uses a permanent cable laid beneath the pavement, connected to a domestic chargepoint via removable bollards and connectors.

Given the variation in rules and systems across different areas, drivers are advised to contact their local council directly to find out what options are available to them.

About Freeman & Co.

Freeman & Co. are a specialist firm of road traffic and criminal defence solicitors based in Manchester but with nationwide coverage.

Freeman & Co. specialise in a wide variety of road traffic cases, ranging from drink driving, speeding and mobile phone offences, to name but a few.

The firm was created by Nick Freeman, who has been dubbed “Mr Loophole” by the press for his technical legal ability and robustly challenging the prosecution.

Nick is well regarded as an expert road traffic lawyer and has successfully represented many high profile clients for a variety of motoring offences as well as criminal offences.

The firm of Freeman & Co. embodies the way Nick works, with minute attention to detail and challenging the prosecution at every turn.

If you are facing a road traffic matter or criminal offence and need the services of Freeman & Co. please call on 0161 236 7007.

Freeman & Co. are available for Police Station attendances and an experienced criminal lawyer is on hand to take your call.

If you would prefer to send a confidential email the please click here.

Our Details

Freeman & Co Solicitors
8 Oxford Court
Manchester
M2 3WQ

Tel. 0161 236 7007

Our Location

The post Nearly Half of UK Councils Set to Offer Cross-Pavement EV Charging by the End of 2026 appeared first on Nick Freeman Solicitors | Drink Driving & Road Traffic Law Solicitors.

The figures, obtained by the RAC through a Freedom of Information request, show that 12,391 drivers have accrued three or more DG10 endorsements for driving or attempting to drive whilst under the influence of drugs above specified legal limits since 2014. That number is five times greater than the 2,553 drivers who accumulated the equivalent number of repeat drink driving convictions during the same period. In total, 41,422 licence holders were convicted of drug driving on more than one occasion over the eleven years covered by the data.

The scale of reoffending

The figures include some striking individual examples. One driver has accumulated 18 separate drug driving convictions, while another has 17. A number of other motorists have between 12 and 14 convictions each. In total, 32 drivers have 10 DG10 endorsements on their record, 38 have 9, and 94 currently hold 8 drug driving offences.

Overall, 72,662 motorists have at least one DG10 conviction recorded against their driving licence. Of particular concern is the finding that 4,131 of those convictions were accrued by drivers holding only a provisional licence, meaning they had not yet passed their driving test when they offended.

What is a DG10 endorsement?

A DG10 endorsement is recorded on a driver’s licence when they are convicted of driving, or attempting to drive, with a controlled drug present in their system above the legal limit. This applies both to illegal drugs such as cannabis and cocaine, and to certain prescription medicines including morphine and diazepam, where specified blood concentration thresholds are exceeded. DG10 endorsements remain on a driver’s record for eleven years.

Current penalties and calls for reform

A conviction for drug driving in England and Wales currently carries a minimum one-year driving ban, an unlimited fine, a criminal record and a potential custodial sentence of up to six months. Despite these penalties, the RAC’s analysis suggests they are not acting as a sufficient deterrent against reoffending.

Rod Dennis, RAC senior policy officer, said: “While it’s drink-driving that tends to attract most of the headlines in the UK, these figures show just how much of a problem the more ‘under-the-radar’ issue of drug-driving is becoming. Thousands of drivers on the road today have been caught for drug-driving more than once. Drug-driving reoffending rates dwarf those of drink-driving, which suggests that current penalties aren’t effective in preventing some drug-drivers from repeating their crimes and putting everyone at risk. Introducing a national drug-driving rehabilitation scheme, similar to what is in place for drink-driving, could also help to drive down reoffending. Our analysis highlights some extreme examples, including drivers accumulating up to 18 separate drug-driving convictions, and the fact that more than 4,000 drivers with just a provisional driving licence have accrued DG10 endorsements. The Government has committed to tackling this growing problem as part of its road safety strategy, including reviewing the penalties and mandatory training offenders receive, as well as considering new powers to immediately suspend the licences of drivers caught. Other countries such as Australia already routinely use roadside saliva testing of suspected drug-drivers, and we urgently need a similar system in the UK.”

LEARN MORE: If you would like to know more about our drug driving defence services and how Freeman & Co. can help your case, just click the link.

About Freeman & Co.

Freeman & Co. are a specialist firm of road traffic and criminal defence solicitors based in Manchester but with nationwide coverage.

Freeman & Co. specialise in a wide variety of road traffic cases, ranging from drink driving, speeding and mobile phone offences, to name but a few.

The firm was created by Nick Freeman, who has been dubbed “Mr Loophole” by the press for his technical legal ability and robustly challenging the prosecution.

Nick is well regarded as an expert road traffic lawyer and has successfully represented many high profile clients for a variety of motoring offences as well as criminal offences.

The firm of Freeman & Co. embodies the way Nick works, with minute attention to detail and challenging the prosecution at every turn.

If you are facing a road traffic matter or criminal offence and need the services of Freeman & Co. please call on 0161 236 7007.

Freeman & Co. are available for Police Station attendances and an experienced criminal lawyer is on hand to take your call.

If you would prefer to send a confidential email the please click here.

Our Details

Freeman & Co Solicitors
8 Oxford Court
Manchester
M2 3WQ

Tel. 0161 236 7007

Our Location

The post More Than 12,000 Drivers Caught Drug Driving Three or More Times in Eleven Years appeared first on Nick Freeman Solicitors | Drink Driving & Road Traffic Law Solicitors.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary and Thames Valley Police will be testing the technology as part of efforts to address what officers have described as an emerging threat on UK roads: drivers taking to the wheel whilst under the influence of laughing gas, also known as nitrous oxide, NOS or “hippy crack”.

The legal position on nitrous oxide

Nitrous oxide is classified as a Class C drug in England and Wales. Anyone found in possession of it faces a potential prison sentence of up to two years. Driving whilst impaired by any drug, including nitrous oxide, is a criminal offence under the Drug Driving (Specified Limits) (England and Wales) Regulations 2014.

A police spokesperson commented: “Driving under the influence of nitrous oxide is an emerging threat to the safety of motorists on our roads. Its use can cause unconsciousness and even neurological damage or death from suffocation of the oxygen supply to the brain. Tragically, our officers have already seen deaths connected to drivers who were under the influence of NOS. The innovative device is being tested by our officers to see if it can be used to detect if a driver is under the influence of this harmful drug. If successful, this could lead to these motorists being prosecuted for drug driving offences.”

How does the device work?

The breathalyser was developed by Respira Technologies, drawing on research from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. The driver breathes into the portable device and results are available within a matter of minutes. Crucially, the device is capable of detecting nitrous oxide inhalation within the previous two hours, providing officers with a practical roadside tool that does not currently exist.

Acting Superintendent Emma Hart, of the joint operations roads policing unit, explained: “There is currently no device available that can prove a driver inhaled laughing gas, making prosecution difficult. That is why our forces are leading this testing phase, to break new ground and prove these devices can help save lives on our roads. Nitrous oxide is a growing issue, especially with young drivers who don’t understand the harm it can cause, so when we saw the opportunity to test this new technology, we knew how important it could be towards these devices being rolled out across the country.”

Simon Williams, RAC head of policy, added: “We welcome this important trial and hope it leads to the device being used by all police forces. Drug-driving is becoming far too common and so are its consequences. Having a means to detect anyone driving under the influence of nitrous oxide is a very positive step.”

LEARN MORE: If you would like to know more about our drug driving defence services and how Freeman & Co. can help your case, just click the link.

About Freeman & Co.

Freeman & Co. are a specialist firm of road traffic and criminal defence solicitors based in Manchester but with nationwide coverage.

Freeman & Co. specialise in a wide variety of road traffic cases, ranging from drink driving, speeding and mobile phone offences, to name but a few.

The firm was created by Nick Freeman, who has been dubbed “Mr Loophole” by the press for his technical legal ability and robustly challenging the prosecution.

Nick is well regarded as an expert road traffic lawyer and has successfully represented many high profile clients for a variety of motoring offences as well as criminal offences.

The firm of Freeman & Co. embodies the way Nick works, with minute attention to detail and challenging the prosecution at every turn.

If you are facing a road traffic matter or criminal offence and need the services of Freeman & Co. please call on 0161 236 7007.

Freeman & Co. are available for Police Station attendances and an experienced criminal lawyer is on hand to take your call.

If you would prefer to send a confidential email the please click here.

Our Details

Freeman & Co Solicitors
8 Oxford Court
Manchester
M2 3WQ

Tel. 0161 236 7007

Our Location

The post World-First Nitrous Oxide Breathalyser to Be Trialled by UK Police Forces appeared first on Nick Freeman Solicitors | Drink Driving & Road Traffic Law Solicitors.

QR codes, read by a smartphone camera, are designed to direct users to a website quickly and conveniently. Criminals are exploiting this by placing counterfeit stickers over legitimate codes on parking machines, redirecting drivers to fake payment websites that capture their bank card details for fraudulent use.

The scale of the problem

The data, obtained through a Freedom of Information request by Alisa Reliability Solutions, suggests that drivers have lost at least £56,000 to fake QR code scams since 2022. However, experts believe the true figure is likely to be considerably higher, as many victims do not report the fraud to police or their local council, often because the individual sums taken are relatively small.

The risk of being caught out twice

There is an additional consequence that many drivers may not initially consider. If a fraudulent QR code redirects a driver to a fake payment site, their parking fee will not actually have been paid. This means they may subsequently receive a penalty charge notice from the council, compounding the financial harm already suffered.

Simon Williams, RAC head of policy, commented: “A car park is one of the last places where you’d expect to be caught out by online fraud. Unfortunately, the increasing popularity and ease of using QR codes appears to have made drivers more vulnerable to malicious scammers. For some, this sadly means a Quick Response code could in fact be a ‘quick route’ to losing money. As if this quishing scam isn’t nasty enough, it can also lead to drivers being caught out twice if they don’t realise they haven’t paid for parking and end up getting a hefty fine from the council. The safest course of action when paying for parking at a council-owned car park is to avoid using QR codes altogether.”

How to protect yourself

The RAC advises that where possible, drivers should pay for parking using cash or card at the machine directly, or through an official parking app. A QR code should only be used where no other payment option is available.

If you do need to use a QR code, the following steps can help reduce your risk:

• Before scanning, check whether the QR code sticker appears to have been placed over the original. Signs include the code appearing unusually large or partially covering official text or markings.
• Once directed to a payment page, check that the website address begins with https:// and displays a padlock symbol, and confirm it is the official site for the parking operator.
• If you are concerned that you may have used a fraudulent code, review your bank statements and banking app promptly for any unfamiliar transactions.
• If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from your bank, ask for a reference number and then call your bank back using the number printed on the reverse of your bank card or from their official website. Never use a number provided by the caller.

About Freeman & Co.

Freeman & Co. are a specialist firm of road traffic and criminal defence solicitors based in Manchester but with nationwide coverage.

Freeman & Co. specialise in a wide variety of road traffic cases, ranging from drink driving, speeding and mobile phone offences, to name but a few.

The firm was created by Nick Freeman, who has been dubbed “Mr Loophole” by the press for his technical legal ability and robustly challenging the prosecution.

Nick is well regarded as an expert road traffic lawyer and has successfully represented many high profile clients for a variety of motoring offences as well as criminal offences.

The firm of Freeman & Co. embodies the way Nick works, with minute attention to detail and challenging the prosecution at every turn.

If you are facing a road traffic matter or criminal offence and need the services of Freeman & Co. please call on 0161 236 7007.

Freeman & Co. are available for Police Station attendances and an experienced criminal lawyer is on hand to take your call.

If you would prefer to send a confidential email the please click here.

Our Details

Freeman & Co Solicitors
8 Oxford Court
Manchester
M2 3WQ

Tel. 0161 236 7007

Our Location

The post QR Code Parking Scams Surge by Over 1,300% Across the UK appeared first on Nick Freeman Solicitors | Drink Driving & Road Traffic Law Solicitors.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show that 32,000 licences have been revoked or refused since 2022 where eyesight was identified as the primary issue. Of those, around 20,000 involved drivers aged 70 and over.

The data indicates that, on average, approximately 8,000 motorists per year are found not to meet the minimum legal eyesight requirement to drive.

A breakdown of the figures shows that 9,479 licences were revoked in 2022, followed by 7,362 in 2023, 8,200 in 2024 and 7,845 in 2025. In addition, 4,177 bus and lorry drivers have had their entitlement revoked or refused over the same period due to eyesight concerns.

While older drivers account for the largest proportion of cases, the issue is not confined to one age group. The figures show that 1,468 drivers under 25 were affected, alongside 2,273 aged between 25 and 39, and 2,785 aged 40 to 54.

Among older age groups, 6,361 drivers aged between 55 and 69 lost their licences, with the number rising significantly to 10,794 for those aged 70 to 79. A further 8,060 cases involved drivers aged 80 to 89, and 1,202 affected those aged over 90.

The legal requirement for drivers is to be able to read a standard number plate from a distance of 20 metres. Failing to meet this standard can result in a licence being revoked or a renewal application being refused.

Commenting on the findings, motoring journalist Ben Welham highlighted the gradual nature of eyesight deterioration.

“Eyesight deterioration usually happens gradually, so drivers might not notice small changes over time. The data shows this isn’t limited to one age group, so maintaining good vision is relevant at every stage of life,” he said.

“Regular professional eye tests remain the safest way to make sure you meet the legal standard and can continue driving confidently. Drivers should be able to clearly read a standard number plate from 20 metres away.”

The figures underline a consistent legal principle: holding a driving licence is conditional upon continuing to meet the required medical standards, including eyesight.

For motorists, the position is clear. Drivers are under an ongoing duty to ensure they remain fit to drive, and failure to do so can result not only in licence revocation but also potential legal consequences if driving standards are compromised.

About Freeman & Co.

Freeman & Co. are a specialist firm of road traffic and criminal defence solicitors based in Manchester but with nationwide coverage.

Freeman & Co. specialise in a wide variety of road traffic cases, ranging from drink driving, speeding and mobile phone offences, to name but a few.

The firm was created by Nick Freeman, who has been dubbed “Mr Loophole” by the press for his technical legal ability and robustly challenging the prosecution.

Nick is well regarded as an expert road traffic lawyer and has successfully represented many high profile clients for a variety of motoring offences as well as criminal offences.

The firm of Freeman & Co. embodies the way Nick works, with minute attention to detail and challenging the prosecution at every turn.

If you are facing a road traffic matter or criminal offence and need the services of Freeman & Co. please call on 0161 236 7007.

Freeman & Co. are available for Police Station attendances and an experienced criminal lawyer is on hand to take your call.

If you would prefer to send a confidential email the please click here.

Our Details

Freeman & Co Solicitors
8 Oxford Court
Manchester
M2 3WQ

Tel. 0161 236 7007

Our Location

The post DVLA Revokes 32,000 Licences Over Eyesight Failures As 20,000 Over-70s Affected appeared first on Nick Freeman Solicitors | Drink Driving & Road Traffic Law Solicitors.

An e-bike, or electrically assisted pedal cycle, is a bicycle fitted with an electric motor and rechargeable battery that provides additional power whilst the rider is pedalling. Legally, anyone aged 14 or over may ride one on public roads and cycle paths in the UK without a licence, provided the bike meets strict criteria: the motor must produce no more than 250 watts and must not propel the bike beyond 15.5mph. The bike must also have working pedals.

Where a bike exceeds these limits or lacks pedals, it is classified in law as a motorcycle or moped. That means it must be registered, taxed and insured, and the rider must hold a valid driving licence. Those caught riding such a vehicle illegally on a public road face the same penalties as any unlicensed motor vehicle driver. Importantly, higher powered bikes can be used lawfully on private land, such as by farmers working across large areas of land.

The Scale of the Problem

The Metropolitan Police reports that it has seized more than 2,900 illegal e-bikes and e-scooters since January 2026. In a single operation at Cambridge Circus in the West End, officers seized 38 e-bikes in just five hours.

Superintendent Luke Baldock, the Met’s lead officer for tackling e-bike crime, confirmed the force was “ramping up action to tackle the dangerous riding of illegally modified e-bikes, increasing the roll-out of specialist operations across London.” Officers say they are encountering a rise in “illegally modified e-bikes with improvised batteries and motors far exceeding the legal 250W limit.”

The picture beyond policing is equally concerning. Data compiled by Sky News shows that crimes involving e-bikes and e-scooters increased by more than 730 per cent over the five years to 2025, with these vehicles appearing in cases involving theft, robbery, drug trafficking and stalking.

The London Fire Brigade has also raised the alarm, describing e-bike batteries as one of the capital’s fastest growing fire risks. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Richard Field stated: “From our investigations, we know many of the fires we’ve attended have involved second-hand vehicles or the bike has been modified using parts bought online.” The Brigade attended a record 205 e-bike and e-scooter fires in 2025, rising from 171 in 2024, with at least 30 call-outs already recorded in 2026.

Duncan Dollimore, head of campaigns at Cycling UK, told The i Paper: “It’s stopped being a cycling and e-bike problem. It’s become a very complex product safety problem and also an employment law problem.”

At the heart of the problem lies an exploitable gap in online retail regulation. E-bikes and conversion kits capable of speeds far beyond the legal limit are freely available to purchase online, often without any legal warning. This is technically lawful because higher powered e-bikes are permitted on private land and off-road sites.

A conversion kit labelled “for off-road use only” may not constitute an illegal listing, even if the product is plainly capable of being used on public roads. Sellers are not legally responsible for how buyers choose to use the product once purchased.

Dollimore stated that this loophole was being openly exploited: “We’ve got multiple platforms advertising bikes, saying things like ‘fix the commute’ and then saying it’s for off-road use, which is misleading, and it’s verging on mis-selling.”

Both Amazon and Temu issued statements indicating they monitor their platforms for non-compliant products, but campaigners argue that self-regulation is insufficient.

The Employment Dimension

Labour MP Fabian Hamilton, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cycling and Walking, has drawn attention to another driver of illegal e-bike use: the pay structures used by major food delivery platforms. “If you pay the riders by the delivery rather than by the hour, then you’re challenging people to cut corners,” he told The i Paper. The APPG found evidence that many food delivery riders felt pressured to use faster, illegally modified bikes simply to meet delivery expectations.

Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat all stated that their terms require riders to comply with the law, with Deliveroo adding that it had partnerships in place to give riders more affordable access to compliant vehicles. However, Hamilton is calling for structural reform, arguing that employment law must be changed to require delivery companies to engage riders on terms equivalent to those of other workers.

Labour had previously committed to replacing the distinction between “employees” and “workers” with a single worker status, which would extend full employment rights and make it easier to impose safety obligations across the gig economy. That proposal was not, however, included in the Employment Rights Act 2025. The Government has indicated it will consult on the matter as soon as possible.

What the Government Is Doing

Last year, Parliament passed the Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025, granting the Government new powers to update product safety laws and potentially make online marketplaces such as Amazon and Temu legally liable for illegal products sold through their platforms. Currently, liability rests with the individual third-party sellers, not the platforms themselves.

A Government consultation is now under way, though critics note that it does not address the off-road loophole that allows retailers to sell products capable of exceeding legal road limits. A Government spokesperson stated that the work includes “proposals to introduce stringent responsibilities for online marketplaces to take proactive measures to ensure the products on their sites are safe.”

Hamilton has also called for a scrappage scheme to remove illegal bikes from circulation and a kitemark system to allow police and businesses to identify compliant vehicles at a glance.

Separately, the Government’s Crime and Policing Bill, currently at report stage in the House of Lords, proposes a new criminal offence of causing death or serious injury by dangerous or careless cycling, carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The Position for Riders

The message for anyone using or considering an e-bike is clear. If your bike exceeds the 250 watt or 15.5mph threshold, or lacks working pedals, it is not a bicycle in the eyes of the law. Riding it on a public road without registration, insurance and a licence is a criminal offence, regardless of where the bike was purchased or what the product listing may have stated.

About Freeman & Co.

Freeman & Co. are a specialist firm of road traffic and criminal defence solicitors based in Manchester but with nationwide coverage.

Freeman & Co. specialise in a wide variety of road traffic cases, ranging from drink driving, speeding and mobile phone offences, to name but a few.

The firm was created by Nick Freeman, who has been dubbed “Mr Loophole” by the press for his technical legal ability and robustly challenging the prosecution.

Nick is well regarded as an expert road traffic lawyer and has successfully represented many high profile clients for a variety of motoring offences as well as criminal offences.

The firm of Freeman & Co. embodies the way Nick works, with minute attention to detail and challenging the prosecution at every turn.

If you are facing a road traffic matter or criminal offence and need the services of Freeman & Co. please call on 0161 236 7007.

Freeman & Co. are available for Police Station attendances and an experienced criminal lawyer is on hand to take your call.

If you would prefer to send a confidential email the please click here.

Our Details

Freeman & Co Solicitors
8 Oxford Court
Manchester
M2 3WQ

Tel. 0161 236 7007

Our Location

The post Illegal E-Bikes on Britain’s Roads: The Loophole the Law Has Yet to Close appeared first on Nick Freeman Solicitors | Drink Driving & Road Traffic Law Solicitors.

A Trial That Has Gone On Too Long

Rented e-scooters have been operating in British towns and cities under a trial scheme for several years. According to Transport for London, the current trials began in September 2023 and are scheduled to run until May 2028. However, no decision has been made as to whether shared e-scooters will be permitted to operate permanently on UK streets.

Christina Moe Gjerde, Vice-President for Northern Europe at Voi, the Swedish e-scooter and e-bike company operating in nearly 20 UK towns and cities, has spoken candidly about the consequences of this inaction. Voi currently accounts for around two thirds of all e-scooter journeys in the UK, placing it at the centre of the debate.

“My stance on this is, the UK needs to wake up,” she told The i Paper. “The UK e-scooters trial has been running for too long. And if this is the way the UK plans to go about new tech and innovation… this country will continue to be lagging behind other European countries.”

Safety Concerns and Outdated Equipment

One of the more striking arguments put forward by Moe Gjerde concerns not just commercial viability, but public safety. She contends that the absence of regulatory certainty is preventing operators from investing in newer, more technologically advanced scooters for the UK market.”
If you look at the scooter vehicles that are out on the street here are outdated models compared to other markets, because, again, there’s no certainty,” she said.

Modern e-scooter models available in European markets are equipped with built-in cameras capable of detecting pavement riding or reckless behaviour such as running red lights. Upon detection, the system automatically alerts the rider and reduces the vehicle’s speed. These features are not being rolled out in the UK at the same pace, she argues, precisely because operators are unwilling to invest in hardware with no guarantee of a permanent operating environment.

Rider Behaviour and Over-Regulation

Moe Gjerde also offered a candid assessment of rider behaviour, suggesting that the heavily regulated nature of the UK trial has had an unintended consequence. She argued that by removing so much responsibility from riders, the current system has made British users less aware of traffic rules than their European counterparts.

“Brits need a little bit more enforcement and healthy incentives and encouragement than other countries,” she said. “So it’s more restrictive here than it is in other markets. But in my opinion, that is because we are a pilot that is totally over-regulated, super restrictive in terms of what our riders can and cannot do… it allows users to become lazy because we’re doing the job for you.”

Threat to UK Operations

Moe Gjerde has not shied away from issuing a stark warning to the Government. She pointed to the withdrawal of car-sharing firm Zipcar from London as evidence that regulatory uncertainty is already causing operators to redirect investment elsewhere, and suggested Voi could follow suit.”
If they extend the trial again, then worse comes to worst and we will be looking to pull the plug and put that investment elsewhere,” she said, adding: “I would be as bold as to say you will see more and more e-scooter operators threatening to quit the UK over UK delays.”

“We’re screaming out for a direction, we’re screaming for a strategy,” she added.

The Government’s Position

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport responded by acknowledging the need for updated legislation: “We know the law needs updating to make sure e-scooters are safe for everyone on the road and have committed to regulating them as soon as possible. The trials currently running are allowing us to understand how e-scooters operate in the real world in a controlled environment, ahead of legislating for their widespread use.”

What This Means in Practice

For members of the public, the legal position on e-scooters remains straightforward but frequently misunderstood. Privately owned e-scooters are not permitted on public roads, pavements or cycle lanes in England and Wales. Only rental e-scooters operating within an approved trial area are lawful for use on public roads, and only within the specific boundaries and rules of that trial.

Riding a privately owned e-scooter on a public road is a criminal offence and can result in a fixed penalty notice, points on a driving licence, and potentially seizure of the vehicle.

Until Parliament acts to create a permanent legal framework, this position will not change — regardless of how long the trials continue.

About Freeman & Co.

Freeman & Co. are a specialist firm of road traffic and criminal defence solicitors based in Manchester but with nationwide coverage.

Freeman & Co. specialise in a wide variety of road traffic cases, ranging from drink driving, speeding and mobile phone offences, to name but a few.

The firm was created by Nick Freeman, who has been dubbed “Mr Loophole” by the press for his technical legal ability and robustly challenging the prosecution.

Nick is well regarded as an expert road traffic lawyer and has successfully represented many high profile clients for a variety of motoring offences as well as criminal offences.

The firm of Freeman & Co. embodies the way Nick works, with minute attention to detail and challenging the prosecution at every turn.

If you are facing a road traffic matter or criminal offence and need the services of Freeman & Co. please call on 0161 236 7007.

Freeman & Co. are available for Police Station attendances and an experienced criminal lawyer is on hand to take your call.

If you would prefer to send a confidential email the please click here.

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Freeman & Co Solicitors
8 Oxford Court
Manchester
M2 3WQ

Tel. 0161 236 7007

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Latest Home Office figures show that 2.93 million offences were recorded in 2024, representing a 9% increase on the previous year and the highest total since comparable records began in 2011.

Speeding continues to dominate enforcement data, accounting for 2.53 million offences, 86% of the total, and reaching a new record high. The figures exclude London, although separate data indicates that the Metropolitan Police recorded nearly 600,000 motoring offences in the capital in 2024, a 19% rise on the previous year.

The enforcement outcomes varied, with fines issued in 37% of cases, 12% resulting in court proceedings, and just over half, 51%, dealt with by way of driver retraining courses.

Beyond speeding, several other categories of offending have seen notable increases. Careless driving rose by 27% year-on-year, while offences involving handheld mobile phones increased by 11%. There was also a 6% rise in cases involving the failure to comply with traffic signs and pedestrian rights.

The figures sit alongside Department for Transport data indicating that speed was a contributing factor in 59% of fatal collisions in Britain in 2024, underlining the continued link between excess speed and serious road traffic incidents.

Motoring organisations have expressed concern at both the scale of the increase and what it suggests about driver behaviour.

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at The AA, said the figures were of “great concern” and called for increased police visibility on the roads.

“AA members say they regularly see examples of poor driving standards but rarely see traffic officers on patrol,” he said. “At the moment, too many people think they can get away with it.”

A similar position was adopted by RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis, who warned that a broader cultural issue may be developing.

“Half of drivers believe there is a culture of speeding in the UK. We urge the government to work with police forces and take firm action,” he said.

“While enforcement through speed cameras has its place, greater visibility of police officers can also make a significant difference in changing driver behaviour.”

The effectiveness of existing enforcement measures has also been questioned. Research commissioned by Churchill Motor Insurance found that 31% of drivers who had attended a speed awareness course in the past three years were subsequently caught speeding again.

William Porter, policy and public affairs manager at IAM RoadSmart, said the data pointed to a wider issue of compliance.

“Without decisive intervention, we risk normalising dangerous driving habits that have devastating consequences,” he said.

In response to rising concerns, Transport for London has confirmed it will trial a new generation of speed cameras capable of monitoring multiple lanes of traffic simultaneously without the need for a visible flash. The radar-based systems are expected to be installed at up to 10 locations across the capital.

The latest figures reinforce a consistent message for motorists: while enforcement methods continue to evolve, the legal obligations remain unchanged, and the risks associated with non-compliance, particularly in relation to speed, remain significant both in legal and safety terms.

About Freeman & Co.

Freeman & Co. are a specialist firm of road traffic and criminal defence solicitors based in Manchester but with nationwide coverage.

Freeman & Co. specialise in a wide variety of road traffic cases, ranging from drink driving, speeding and mobile phone offences, to name but a few.

The firm was created by Nick Freeman, who has been dubbed “Mr Loophole” by the press for his technical legal ability and robustly challenging the prosecution.

Nick is well regarded as an expert road traffic lawyer and has successfully represented many high profile clients for a variety of motoring offences as well as criminal offences.

The firm of Freeman & Co. embodies the way Nick works, with minute attention to detail and challenging the prosecution at every turn.

If you are facing a road traffic matter or criminal offence and need the services of Freeman & Co. please call on 0161 236 7007.

Freeman & Co. are available for Police Station attendances and an experienced criminal lawyer is on hand to take your call.

If you would prefer to send a confidential email the please click here.

Our Details

Freeman & Co Solicitors
8 Oxford Court
Manchester
M2 3WQ

Tel. 0161 236 7007

Our Location

The post Motoring Offences Hit Record High As Warnings Issued Over ‘Normalised’ Dangerous Driving appeared first on Nick Freeman Solicitors | Drink Driving & Road Traffic Law Solicitors.

The figures, compiled by the RAC Foundation, are based on data showing how often private operators accessed vehicle keeper details from the DVLA in order to pursue alleged parking infringements. Between April 2019 and September 2025, there were 68.4 million such requests, with a further eight million recorded since.

The scale of enforcement has led to concerns that the system is operating in a way that disproportionately impacts drivers.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “No one denies there are some drivers who will always try it on, but the idea that the vast majority of the estimated 48,000 people who get ticketed daily set out to flout the rules is absurd.

“In this financial climate who knowingly risks getting charged a ‘penalty’ of typically £100? This suggests something fundamental is wrong with the system and we urge ministers to finally act to curb some of the power of the parking industry whose aim, which is understandable in a way, is to make as much money as possible.”

Efforts to reform the private parking sector have been ongoing for several years. In 2019, the Parking (Code of Practice) Act received Royal Assent, with the intention of introducing a unified code of conduct. The reforms were designed to address longstanding concerns about unclear signage, aggressive debt recovery practices and disproportionate charges.

Among the proposed changes was a reduction in the cap on parking charges, which would have seen most penalties set at £50. However, the implementation of the code was withdrawn in 2022 following a legal challenge, delaying the introduction of nationwide standards.

A further consultation on a revised code was undertaken by the current Government in 2025, although no final framework has yet been implemented.

Responding to the latest figures, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “Motorists must be protected when using private car parks and we are determined to drive up standards in the industry.

“We have run a consultation on this issue and will set out further details on the private parking code of practice as soon as possible.”

Industry representatives, however, maintain that enforcement plays a necessary role in maintaining order within car parks.

Isaac Occhipinti, head of external affairs at the British Parking Association, said: “The BPA recognises the need for a code of practice that reflects today’s motoring environment.

“With record numbers of vehicles on the road, the new framework is an important step to address current concerns, protect decent drivers and deter behaviour that harms communities.

“Parking charges act as a deterrent. When they are reduced, evidence shows that compliance falls, disruption rises and more people ultimately receive charges.”

The debate highlights the ongoing tension between consumer protection and enforcement within the private parking industry, with ministers under increasing pressure to deliver a regulatory framework that balances both interests.

For motorists, the current position remains unchanged: private parking charges continue to be enforceable, and drivers should exercise caution when entering privately managed car parks, particularly where terms and conditions may not be immediately clear.

About Freeman & Co.

Freeman & Co. are a specialist firm of road traffic and criminal defence solicitors based in Manchester but with nationwide coverage.

Freeman & Co. specialise in a wide variety of road traffic cases, ranging from drink driving, speeding and mobile phone offences, to name but a few.

The firm was created by Nick Freeman, who has been dubbed “Mr Loophole” by the press for his technical legal ability and robustly challenging the prosecution.

Nick is well regarded as an expert road traffic lawyer and has successfully represented many high profile clients for a variety of motoring offences as well as criminal offences.

The firm of Freeman & Co. embodies the way Nick works, with minute attention to detail and challenging the prosecution at every turn.

If you are facing a road traffic matter or criminal offence and need the services of Freeman & Co. please call on 0161 236 7007.

Freeman & Co. are available for Police Station attendances and an experienced criminal lawyer is on hand to take your call.

If you would prefer to send a confidential email the please click here.

Our Details

Freeman & Co Solicitors
8 Oxford Court
Manchester
M2 3WQ

Tel. 0161 236 7007

Our Location

The post Private Parking Firms Issue 76 Million Tickets As Calls Grow For Reform Of ‘Broken’ System appeared first on Nick Freeman Solicitors | Drink Driving & Road Traffic Law Solicitors.