More than 350,000 red-light offenses were recorded across the UK between 2023 and 2025, marking a 37.5% increase over the three-year period. The data, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, shows one violation occurred every four and a half minutes on average.
London accounted for nearly half of all offenses, with 187,261 recorded by the Metropolitan Police. Outside the capital, Nottinghamshire saw the highest number among responding forces, with 30,532 violations. Leicestershire, Surrey, and Scotland followed with 23,296, 17,779, and 17,232 offenses, respectively.
The sharpest rises happened in smaller forces
Humberside Police reported the most dramatic increase—a 570.2% jump from 299 offenses in 2023 to 2,004 in 2025. West Mercia Police saw a 533.1% rise, with violations climbing from 426 to 2,697 over the same period.
The numbers include 33,951 offenses from the first three months of 2026 alone, averaging 377 violations per day.
Most drivers who run red lights do so unintentionally, according to motoring experts. Misjudging the timing of a light change or attempting to clear a junction too late are common causes. But the consequences can be severe, especially at busy intersections where pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles are already in motion.
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Ben Welham, a motoring expert at Cinch, said drivers often assume they have enough time to pass safely, even when others have already entered the intersection on a green signal. That assumption, he noted, puts everyone at risk.
Why the numbers might not tell the whole story
Some 26 police forces responded to the FOI request, meaning the total could be higher. Some forces may also have improved enforcement in recent years, leading to more recorded offenses without a corresponding rise in actual violations.
The data also doesn’t account for near-misses or unreported incidents, which could paint a fuller picture of the problem.
For now, the trend shows no signs of reversing. With nearly 190,000 offenses in London alone, the capital’s roads remain the most hazardous for red-light violations. But the sharp increases in smaller forces like Humberside and West Mercia indicate the problem is spreading beyond urban centers.