Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2024-25

Road traffic offences

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, the number of Road traffic offences recorded by the police in Scotland increased by 1% from 112,417 to 114,052. In the last 10 years, the number of Road traffic offences has decreased by 33% from 170,462 in 2015-16 to 114,052 in 2024-25.

The national rate of recorded Road traffic offences was 208 offences per 10,000 population in 2024-25. This has increased from 205 per 10,000 population in 2023-24, and decreased from 319 per 10,000 population in 2015-16.

In 2024-25, of all Road traffic offences:

• Dangerous & careless driving accounted for 12%
• Driving under the influence accounted for 8%
• Speeding accounted for 11%
• Unlawful use of motor vehicle accounted for 34%
• Vehicle defect offences accounted for 8%
• Seat belt offences accounted for 2%
• Mobile phone offences accounted for 3%
• Other road traffic offences accounted for 23%

Figure 24 below presents the offence categories within Road traffic offences over the latest 10 years and gives an indication of the trend and scale of each category.

Figure 24. The decrease in recorded Speeding offences has driven the fall in Road traffic offences since 2015-16.

Road traffic offences recorded by the police showing five largest categories, Scotland, 2015-16 to 2024-25.

More detail on these offences in addition to Road traffic crimes covered earlier in this bulletin is provided in Table A11 of the 'Supporting documents' Excel workbook.

The following section discusses the four largest categories (Unlawful use of motor vehicle, Other road traffic offences, Dangerous and careless driving and Speeding) in more detail.

Unlawful use of vehicle

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded Unlawful use of vehicle offences increased by 2% from 37,627 to 38,285 offences. There was an 8% decrease over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 41,470 to 38,285 offences.

The Unlawful use of motor vehicle category includes offences such as Driving while disqualified, Driving without a licence, Driving without insurance, and Driving without a test certificate. Further detail can be found in the User Guide.

The increase in this category from 2023-24 to 2024-25 was driven by a 20% increase in Driving Without a Licence (including under age) from 5,644 offences in 2023-24 to 6,758 offences in 2024-25, whereas the decrease since 2015-16 has been driven by a 29% fall in Using Motor Vehicle Without Test Certificate from 14,609 offences in 2015-16 to 10,431 in 2024-25.

Other road traffic offences

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded Other road traffic offences increased by 2% from 26,022 to 26,520 offences. There was a 3% increase over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 25,844 to 26,520 offences.

This category includes a range of offences, such as Accident offences (accounting for 64%), Driver's neglect of traffic directions (not pedestrian crossing) (14%), Motor vehicle other offences (9%) and Failing to provide info to identify driver of motor vehicle (6%).

Dangerous and careless driving

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded Dangerous and careless driving offences increased by 2% from 13,140 to 13,440 offences. There was an 11% increase over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 12,057 to 13,440 offences.

Speeding

Between 2023-24 and 2024-25, recorded Speeding offences decreased by 18% from 15,064 to 12,339 offences. There was a 77% decrease over the 10 year period between 2015-16 and 2024-25, from 54,419 to 12,339 offences.

These figures do not include any offences recorded as a result of the Scottish Safety Camera Programme. These are excluded as no police resources are used in the recording of an offence by this programme and the Accredited Official Statistics on Recorded Crime focus solely on crimes and offences faced by the police and not by other organisations.