166,500 dangerous, careless and irresponsible drivers arrested in Merseyside
Figures obtained by the ECHO show problem driving got worse last year
18:04, 29 Jun 2025
Police at the scene of an incident on Queens Drive in Liverpool. File picture
Drivers have been sternly warned against taking "needless risks" after thousands of motorists were snared by the long arm of the law.
Merseyside police booked a massive 166,500 dangerous, careless and irresponsible drivers in 2023/24.
That's around 11.5% of the entire Merseyside population, which stands at around 1,442,000 according to mid-2022 population figures published by the Office for National Statistics. And figures obtained by the ECHO[1] show these problems worsened last year, as the total number of drivers charged with an offence increased from 63,726 in 2023 to 79,014 in 2024.
In 2023, a total of nine people were charged with the most serious driving offences, including causing death by dangerous driving (seven), causing death or serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving (one) and causing serious injury by dangerous driving (one).
A further 63,717 people were charged with lesser offences of speeding on a public road (52,286), speeding on a motorway (7,920), driving without insurance (1,877), and using their mobile phones while driving (1,634). Of these, 11,296 were referred to court, where they received a fixed penalty notice.
In 2024, these numbers increased, with a total of 14 people being booked for the most serious driving offences.
Eight were charged with causing death by dangerous driving (one), causing death or serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving (one) and causing serious injury by dangerous driving (six).
A further six were summonsed to court for causing death by dangerous driving (one), causing death or serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving (two) and causing serious injury by dangerous driving (two), and causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving (one).
Article continues belowA total of 79,000 drivers were charged with less serious offences, speeding on a public road (65,565), speeding on a motorway (9,048), driving without insurance (1,898), and using their mobile phones while driving (2,489). Of these, 12,464 were fined.
Driving offences in Merseyside, 2023/24
Chief inspector Stuart McIver from the Matrix Roads Policing Unit said: "Any increase in prosecutions for road offences can and should be read in two ways, as it displays positives and negatives.
"On the down side, it is so frustrating to see an increased number of road users prosecuted for serious road collisions; having no insurance; and for mobile phone offences. In an ideal world, my officers would not have to carry out enforcement operations at all, and would be freed up to focus on other aspects of roads policing.
"Unfortunately, until attitudes and habits change, we have a duty to make our roads as safe as we possibly can, and to make every effort to reduce the fatal and serious injury collisions across Merseyside.
"Driving without insurance is selfish in the extreme, particularly when those drivers end up involved in collisions.
The impact on other road users can range from the widespread devastation caused by fatal and serious injury collisions, to the stress and financial impact involved from being in collision with an uninsured vehicle.
"Drivers who use mobile phones are also taking needless risks in their vehicles, both to their own lives and the safety of others. When prosecuted, you can expect six points on your licence and a fine, which will impact on insurance prices, job security and your future. It needs to become as socially unacceptable as drink driving.
"My advice is simple: put your phone away for the duration of the journey, and only use it when stopped in a safe place.
This law still applies if you are stopped at lights; queuing in traffic; supervising a learner; or holding and using a device which is offline or in flight mode. Just don't do it.
"We have seen cases of death and serious injury caused by people using their mobile phones to record themselves driving or scrolling the Internet, an easily avoidable tragedy for everyone involved. No social media update, internet search or text message is as important as driving safely.
We employ a variety of tactics to catch people, and the numbers show our success in targeting those who put others in danger.
"However, this increased enforcement activity on the roads and in the courts of Merseyside is also encouraging for two reasons.
"Firstly, it highlights the fact that more drivers and being caught and brought to justice, for speeding and for other offences which put other road users at serious risk. Everyone should be reassured by that, and we hope it brings about longer term reductions in serious incidents.
"Secondly, it demonstrates some of the recent initiatives and partnership work that we are carrying out to tackle these issues."
These include:
- Continued partnership work as part of Merseyside Road Safety Partnership (MRSP), a collaboration of emergency services, local authorities and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC)
- Our use of an AI van, designed to highlight and detect people using mobile phones and not wearing seatbelts: AI camera van deployed across Merseyside - Merseyside Road Safety Partnership
- Increased officer hours across Merseyside spent on road enforcement
- Targeted operations in known collision hotspots, often caused by the 'fatal four' - not wearing a seatbelt, drink, and drug driving, speeding and using a handheld mobile phone - including high visibility patrols and roadside checks with breathalysers, field impairment tests and drug wipe
Insp McIver continued: "For example, yesterday we carried out enforcement in Greenhill Road, Allerton[2] following reports of speeding. A total of 27 tickets were issued on this 20mph road, which has a high footfall of schoolchildren at peak times.
"The popular misconception is such activities are a money-making exercise.
They aren't, and I want to make it absolutely clear that our focus is changing dangerous behaviours, thus reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads.
For example, speeding near to schools is beyond belief and needs to stop, everywhere on Merseyside.
Article continues below"A lot of this work is about education, and we offer advice and education to road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers to be road smart and think about the steps that all road users can take to avoid collisions.
"I want to appeal to the public to help us in reducing the number of collisions and casualties by reporting instances of unsafe driving to us, via calling 101 or submitting an online report on our website.
In an emergency always call the police on 999 when it is safe to do so."