Court cases for drug driving, dangerous driving and speeding hit record highs last year, in a “shocking” return to the roads after the pandemic.

Drug driving cases were up 54% compared to 2020

The number of drug driving cases increased by 54% to 21,411 – continuing an ongoing trend for year-on-year increases – according to analysis of 2021 Crown and Magistrates Court data by the AA.

Meanwhile, speeding cases rose 24% to 208,496 compared to 167,596 the year before.

Further record highs were seen in dangerous driving (7,605), causing serious injury through dangerous driving (793) and drivers failing to supply information when required (96,801).

The data also revealed that more than 32,500 drivers were in the dock for drinking and driving, but just 6,169 people were taken to court for using a handheld mobile phone behind the wheel.

A total of 638,044 motoring cases were taken to court last year, with 565,440 people found guilty, showing that 85.5% of motoring-related court cases end with a conviction.

The hiatus in court sessions during the pandemic was partly responsible for the rises but the AA has also warned of falling driving standards after restrictions eased.

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy, said: “With record highs of dangerous driving, drug driving and speeding, it is a timely reminder to every driver that being behind the wheel is a serious responsibility and that poor driving can have serious consequences.

“Drug driving has increased year-on-year since records began and while more police forces are carrying out roadside tests, it seems some people are willing to try and chance it. We need to put more focus on this issue and eliminate it completely from our roads.

“We hope this is a short-term blight in the figures and that driving standards have improved when the 2022 statistics are announced.”