More than 350,000 red-light offences were recorded across Britain between 2023 and 2025, equivalent to one offence every four-and-a-half minutes, new data from online used car retailer Cinch has suggested.
The company’s Freedom of Information data shows that 351,244 offences for failing to comply with a red traffic light were recorded by 26 police forces during the three-year period.
Recorded offences increased every year during the period analysed, rising by 37.5% between 2023 and 2025.
The latest available figures also show a further 33,951 red-light offences were recorded between January and March 2026, averaging more than 377 offences every day, or around one every four minutes.
Ben Welham, Cinch’s motoring expert, said:
“Driving through a red light often happens when drivers misjudge the timing of a light changing, or when they attempt to make it through a junction too late.
“However, failing to stop at a red light can put motorists, cyclists and pedestrians at serious risk, particularly at busy junctions where multiple lanes of traffic are moving at once.
“Even if a driver believes they have enough time to make it through safely, other road users may already be moving through the junction on a green signal.”
Red-light offences rose from 101,184 in 2023 to 139,139 in 2025, with a further 33,951 recorded during the first three months of 2026.
The Metropolitan Police Service recorded by far the highest number of red-light offences between 2023 and 2025, with 187,261 in total.
The force alone accounted for more than half (53.3%) of all offences recorded by the responding police forces.
Outside London, Nottinghamshire Police recorded the highest number of offences (30,532), followed by Leicestershire Constabulary (23,296), Surrey Police (17,779) and Police Scotland (17,232).
The police force areas recording the highest number of red-light offences between 2023 and 2025:
- Metropolitan Police Service – 187,261 offences
- Nottinghamshire Police – 30,532 offences
- Leicestershire Constabulary – 23,296 offences
- Surrey Police – 17,779 offences
- Police Scotland – 17,232 offences
- Essex Police – 9,613 offences
- South Wales Police – 8,532 offences
- Cheshire Constabulary – 8,158 offences
- Hertfordshire Constabulary – 7,748 offences
- West Yorkshire Police – 6,894 offences
The full report from Cinch can be accessed HERE.
(Picture: Highways News)
