Police forces, councils and private firms are collectively earning more than £170 million a year from speed awareness course fees, according to research by Money Mail, with campaigners warning that motorists are being treated as a source of easy revenue. The number of drivers taking a National Speed Awareness Course has risen sharply, driven largely by the spread of stricter 20mph speed limits, which has dramatically increased the number of motorists caught by cameras. Crucially, drivers face a "postcode lottery" on price, with no way to compare costs before booking, meaning many pay significantly more than necessary for the same course.

A record 1.85 million motorists took the course last year, up 12% on 2024 and 70% over five years, according to the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme. Drivers caught speeding in 20mph zones rose from 21,125 three years ago to 127,915 last year, a 505% increase. Money Mail found motorists could save almost 20% by choosing the cheapest course over the most expensive, but providers typically only reveal the price after a driver has selected a course and time slot, preventing comparison. Campaigners fear costs will keep rising as road safety experts and MPs push for 20mph to become the default urban speed limit across England, replacing 30mph.