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Speeding fines triple in South Wales Police area | Speeding fines triple in South Wales Police area |
(35 minutes later) | |
The number of drivers fined in court for speeding offences in South Wales has tripled, according to new figures from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). | |
The force area saw one of the biggest increases in England and Wales with 6,491 fined in 2013, compared to 2,181 three years earlier. | The force area saw one of the biggest increases in England and Wales with 6,491 fined in 2013, compared to 2,181 three years earlier. |
The numbers of Dyfed-Powys and Gwent motorists fined by magistrates doubled. | |
A speed camera in Cardiff generated more than an estimated £800,000 worth of fines in just six months. | A speed camera in Cardiff generated more than an estimated £800,000 worth of fines in just six months. |
According to road safety partnership GoSafe Wales, the speed camera on the junction of the city's Newport Road and Colchester Avenue caught 13,624 speeding motorists and a further 146 running red lights between January and June. | According to road safety partnership GoSafe Wales, the speed camera on the junction of the city's Newport Road and Colchester Avenue caught 13,624 speeding motorists and a further 146 running red lights between January and June. |
The camera was installed in 2012, but only went into fully commissioned operation earlier this year. | The camera was installed in 2012, but only went into fully commissioned operation earlier this year. |
Meanwhile, the number of drivers fined by the courts in the Gwent Police area has almost doubled in five years to 2,486. | |
In Dyfed-Powys, the number more than doubled to 2,540. | |
But in North Wales, the number of motorists fined by magistrates almost halved to 1,744 - although this is the highest number for three years. | |
In total in Wales, 145,892 notices were sent out in 2013, according to Go Safe Wales' annual report. | In total in Wales, 145,892 notices were sent out in 2013, according to Go Safe Wales' annual report. |
A total of 41,596 motorists paid fines and nearly half of these involved drivers ending up on speed awareness courses. | A total of 41,596 motorists paid fines and nearly half of these involved drivers ending up on speed awareness courses. |
The MoJ figures deal with the cases which end up in court and after an initial fall have risen since 2011. | The MoJ figures deal with the cases which end up in court and after an initial fall have risen since 2011. |
The 115,000 fined for speeding by magistrates is the highest since 2009. | |
While London saw the most people fined last year, the figure for the Metropolitan Police area has fallen to 7,736 - its lowest level in five years. | While London saw the most people fined last year, the figure for the Metropolitan Police area has fallen to 7,736 - its lowest level in five years. |
In other force areas, the number of offenders has grown by almost 1,000 in both South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, and by close to 2,000 in Staffordshire since 2009. | In other force areas, the number of offenders has grown by almost 1,000 in both South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, and by close to 2,000 in Staffordshire since 2009. |
A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: "Speeding can have devastating consequences and it's right that drivers should abide by the speed limit. | A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: "Speeding can have devastating consequences and it's right that drivers should abide by the speed limit. |
"These fines were issued at the discretion of the magistrates and show the number of fines issued is in decline across many police force areas." | "These fines were issued at the discretion of the magistrates and show the number of fines issued is in decline across many police force areas." |