UK’s worst offending streets generated £42m in driving fines in a single year

• Meanwhile, Station Parade in Barking and Dagenham Borough Council was revealed as the street that generated the highest income, raking in £2,030,242 in fines during this period.
• Certain single streets generated more than half of the council’s income alone, with Heaton Lane responsible for 57% of all PCNs issued by the Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council.
• Further research finds more than half (57%) of UK drivers have received a PCN, with almost 1 in 8 (12%) receiving PCN on the same street more than once
• 1 in 5 drivers (20%) believe Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) or other newly introduced schemes, such as Clean Air Zones, make certain streets more likely to generate fines
• Matt Crole-Rees, car insurance expert at Confused.com, shares tips for avoiding fines, including checking PCNs carefully, and understanding signage and parking rules

The UK’s worst offending streets have generated more than £42 million from Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) in a single year, new data reveals.

A new study, which looks at which streets in each UK council area has generated the most number of PCNs and income from drivers, found that some single streets are responsible for more than 50% of all penalties issued. That’s according to new data obtained by Confused.com, through Freedom of Information requests to UK councils.

According to the data, Corporation Street at Aston Road, Birmingham is revealed to have recorded the highest number of driving fines in the UK. The financial year 2024/25 saw 62,725 PCNs distributed from offences on the road, mostly from clean air offences.

The request asked UK councils which single street in their authority area dished out the most fines during the last financial year. Drivers can be issued a PCN for various reasons, including parking offences, straying into bus lanes, or blocking a yellow box junction.

The data reveals a staggering £42,194,821 was collected by councils for offences committed on the worst offending streets over the 12 month period. Over half a billion pounds (£530M) was collected by councils in PCN fines over the 12 month period, with £42,194,821 collected from offences committed on the worst offending streets.

Meanwhile, Station Parade in Barking and Dagenham Borough Council was revealed as the street that generated the highest income, raking in £2,030,242 in fines during this period. This street issued 33,440 tickets, making up 14% of all PCNs distributed by the council. Meanwhile Heaton Lane in Stockport generated 57% of all PCNs distributed by the Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council.

In fact, among the top 10 streets where drivers received the most PCNs, 6 cashed in more than £1 million each in fines last year.

The streets responsible for the most PCNs issued in the 2024/25 financial year:

With councils collecting significant sums from parking and traffic fines, it’s no surprise that many drivers are questioning how fairly these penalties are being issued and reasons for this. According to a new survey of 2,000 UK drivers, more than half (57%) of drivers have received a PCN and almost 1 in 8 (12%) have received a PCN on the same street more than once.

Nearly half (48%) were penalised due to parking offences. These include parking on a yellow line, not paying for parking, or parking in a restricted area. These fines are most often picked up in busy areas, with almost half (47%) of drivers receiving their PCN in a city centre, and another 2 in 5 (38%) fined on a residential street.

The cost of these penalties can quickly add up. More than a third of drivers (35%) said they paid between £50 and £100 in PCNs. Two in 5 (40%) drivers believe the current cost of parking fines is too expensive. And when asked what they consider a reasonable amount to pay for a PCN, over 2 in 5 (42%) said it should be under £30.

But drivers don’t always accept their fines without question. Over 2 in 5 (42%) said they appealed their PCN, despite 1 in 4 (25%) finding their local council’s appeal process difficult. The most common reasons for appealing were feeling the ticket was unfair (20%) or believing the signage was unclear or confusing (15%).

More than half (57%) of drivers believe confusing or unclear signs and road markings make certain streets more likely to generate fines. Over 2 in 5 (41%) also said a lack of parking spaces increases the likelihood of receiving a PCN.

New road systems, such as clean air zones could add to the confusion and catch motorists off guard. 1 in 5 drivers (20%) say Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) or other newly introduced schemes make certain streets more likely to generate fines.

Drivers are also concerned about transparency and fairness. Almost half (47%) think councils should be clearer about how parking fines revenue is spent. And over 2 in 5 (44%) feel that councils rely too heavily on PCNs as a source of income.

On the whole, road signage and markings are a key factor in why drivers receive fines, so it’s encouraging that many see a straightforward solution to this common problem. Over 2 in 5 (43%) say clearer signage would significantly reduce the number of parking and traffic fines issued, while 2 in 5 (40%) think councils should invest more in making road and parking signs clearer.

With driving and parking rules becoming increasingly complex, and confusion still widespread, drivers are at greater risk of being fined simply for misunderstandings. Understanding PCNs, and knowing how to avoid or challenge them, helps keep everyone on the roads safe.

Matt Crole-Rees, motoring expert at Confused.com car insurance, comments:

- ENDS -

Notes to editors