The number of motoring offences in Northern Ireland has fallen by 15 per cent, according to official statistics from the PSNI. There were 43,801 motoring offence detections from May 1, 2019 to April 30, 2020, down from 51,522, recorded in the previous 12 months. Fermanagh and Omagh saw 2,656 motoring offences, down from 3,166 the previous year.

The speeding offences across Northern Ireland, accounted for 16 per cent of all detections, a decrease of 1,171 from last year. 135 people a day are caught speeding with one in five offences detected in Belfast, however the highest speed of 127mph, was on the Moneynick Road, Randalstown.

Belfast wasn’t the only problem area, with hots posts such as the A1 Sprucefield Roundabout to Sheepbridge, the A8 to Larne and Glenshane Road Ballymena identified as some of the worst.

The statistics of total offences are broken down across the policing districts below with Belfast City recording the highest with 8,636 motoring offences - Ards and North Down had the lowest rate at just 1,570.

Although these annual statistics have shown a decrease in motoring offences, it has to be taken into consideration that these figures include the first two months of lockdown where there was the biggest drop in registered vehicles since 1991. Working from home, mileage restrictions and the increase in SORN vehicles caused by Covid-19 – all contribute to these findings.

A spokeswoman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland stated: "Since lockdown measures have started to ease, reports of thousands of motorists caught speeding is on the rise. It’s important that if you are planning a road trip or heading back to the office over the next few weeks, that you’re vigilant of other drivers who may be driving recklessly or may simply be nervous of getting behind the wheel for the first time in three months."

That said, sometimes even the best drivers find themselves getting caught a few miles per hour over the speed limit and, whilst this will hopefully not apply to you as you stick to the rules of the road, the experts at CompareNI.com have looked into how speeding will affect your insurance if you are caught…