Louise Thomas, Confused.com car insurance expert comments: “Our latest research shows how many drivers are taking risks when behind the wheel.
“If caught, drivers could face penalties such as a fine or in serious cases, imprisonment.
“The financial implications can also be huge. The average cost of a fine being around £191, although this could be higher, depending on the offence.
“The cost of car insurance can also increase, with some drivers reporting rises of almost £100, on average.
“So the true ‘cost’ of a motoring offence should really be considered when everything is put into perspective.”
The most common motoring offence which people had been convicted was speeding, with 72 percent of drivers facing punishments.
In more than half of cases, people were fined, but they could also receive penalty points on their driving licence, made to undergo a speed awareness course or receive a fixed penalty notice.
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More than one in 10 (11 percent) cases resulted in the person being banned from driving.
However, the punishments are not as much of a deterrent as many would hope, with almost a third of people convicted of a motoring offence reoffending.
The average cost of a fine can total as much as £200 per offence, and if drivers are willing to risk reoffending, these can quickly add up.
In some cases, like speeding or careless driving, motorists could be charged thousands of pounds or even a portion of their average salary.
With these fines, their no-claims discount is also set to be affected, with one in five saying receiving a fine had impacted their car insurance.
Ms Thomas added: “Most importantly, ignoring driving laws can have serious consequences and put other road users at risk. Our data shows that there is some debate whether the current punishments should be harsher to deter drivers from offending.
“If you’re unsure on signage or the current driving laws, the Highway Code is always up to date and can give drivers a clear indication of what they should and shouldn’t do when behind the wheel.”
For some younger drivers (18-24), they saw their average cost of car insurance increase by £117 after being convicted of a motoring offence.
