Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2025-26

Road traffic offences

Between 2024-25 and 2025-26, the number of Road traffic offences recorded by the police in Scotland increased by 11% from 114,052 to 126,853. In the last 10 years, the number of Road traffic offences has decreased by 8% from 138,308 in 2016-17 to 126,853 in 2025-26.

The national rate of recorded Road traffic offences was 229 offences per 10,000 population in 2025-26. This has increased from 206 per 10,000 population in 2024-25, but decreased from 257 per 10,000 population in 2016-17.

In 2025-26, of all Road traffic offences:

• Unlawful use of motor vehicle accounted for 33%
• Other road traffic offences accounted for 22%
• Dangerous & careless driving accounted for 12%
• Speeding accounted for 11%
• Vehicle defect offences accounted for 10%
• Driving under the influence accounted for 7%
• Mobile phone offences accounted for 3%
• Seat belt offences accounted for 2%

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. Whilst all of the five largest categories in the group have increased since 2024-25, the considerable decrease in Speeding since 2016-17 has driven the fall in total Road traffic offences since then.

Road traffic offences recorded by the police showing five largest categories, Scotland, 2016-17 to 2025-26.

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 2024-25 and 2025-26, recorded Unlawful use of vehicle offences increased by 9% from 38,285 to 41,734 offences. There was a 9% decrease over the 10 year period between 2016-17 and 2025-26, from 45,978 to 41,734 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 2024-25 to 2025-26 was driven by a 7% (or 1,233 offences) increase in Failure to Insure Against Third Party Risks from 16,933 offences in 2024-25 to 18,166 offences in 2025-26 and an 18% (or 1,205 offences) increase in Driving Without a Licence (including under age) from 6,758 offences in 2024-25 to 7,963 offences in 2025-26. The decrease since 2016-17 has been driven by a 95% (or 4,428 offences) fall in Vehicle excise Licence Offences from 4,664 offences in 2016-17 to 236 in 2025-26.

Other road traffic offences

Between 2024-25 and 2025-26, recorded Other road traffic offences increased by 6% from 26,520 to 28,116 offences. There was a 35% increase over the 10 year period between 2016-17 and 2025-26, from 20,753 to 28,116 offences.

This category includes a range of offences, such as Accident offences (accounting for 62%), Driver's neglect of traffic directions (not pedestrian crossing) (15%), Motor vehicle other offences (10%) and Failing to provide info to identify driver of motor vehicle (6%).

Dangerous and careless driving

Between 2024-25 and 2025-26, recorded Dangerous and careless driving offences increased by 14% from 13,440 to 15,349 offences. There was a 31% increase over the 10 year period between 2016-17 and 2025-26, from 11,693 to 15,349 offences.

Speeding

Between 2024-25 and 2025-26, recorded Speeding offences increased by 15% from 12,339 to 14,202 offences. There was a 59% decrease over the 10 year period between 2016-17 and 2025-26, from 34,371 to 14,202 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.