91% of drivers say police stop beats fine in post as speeding deterrent

Nine in ten drivers in Northern Ireland believe being pulled over by police for speeding is a better deterrent than receiving a fine in the post, according to new research.

The finding comes as the PSNI begins piloting new state-of-the-art handheld cameras capable of detecting speeding motorists from up to 1km away.

The cameras use laser and video recording technology to detect speeding drivers without the need to stop the vehicles at the scene, which police say will “streamline the process of speed enforcement”.*

A new survey of 700 NI drivers by CompareNI.com found that around two thirds (65%) support these new measures and believe they will help save lives on our roads, while 58% think the new cameras will encourage more drivers to stick to the speed limit.

But the research also found strong support for direct police intervention at the roadside, with 91% of respondents saying that being stopped and spoken to by an officer is a stronger deterrent than a fixed penalty notice arriving in the post.

Most drivers are already switched on to the new enforcement measures, with 68% being aware the new cameras are being trialled. Almost six in ten drivers (59%) said they understand their full capabilities, including that they can be deployed on any road and can also be used in the dark.

While the new road safety measures were broadly welcomed, a third of drivers (33%) said they felt uneasy about the technology and were concerned the cameras may be too intrusive.

Forty-four people have died on the roads in Northern Ireland in 2026 as of the end of July, a significantly higher figure than the same period in 2025 (27).

Speeding is one of the ‘Fatal Five’ behaviours that cause the most deaths and serious injuries on NI roads. Latest police figures show a total of 85,511 speeding offences were recorded here in the 12 months to 31 May 2026, with 95% of them detected by NI Road Safety Partnership speed cameras.**

Almost three-quarters (74%) of speeding offences detected by police during that period involved males, compared with 26% involving females.

The highest speed recorded by PSNI officers in the latest 12 months was 143mph, on the M2 near Antrim.

Ian Wilson, car insurance expert and Managing Director at CompareNI said: “It is very encouraging to see the majority of drivers are behind these new road safety measures. Speeding is one of the top killers on our roads and any steps that can help reduce the number of deaths must be welcomed.

“What stands out from this research is that drivers feel strongly that the human element of policing – being stopped at the roadside and reminded of the risks of speeding – is an effective way to prevent reoffending.

“Education and prevention are just as important as enforcement, and these findings indicate that many drivers believe direct interaction with police at the time of an offence carries a lot of weight.

“Regardless of whether a driver is stopped at the roadside for speeding or receives a fine in the post, the reality is that they are likely to face penalty points, which can have a significant knock-on effect on their car insurance costs.

“Points indicate to insurers that a driver poses a greater risk of having an incident on the road than someone with a clean licence. Our data shows that premiums typically rise by 26% on average if a driver picks up six points. Penalty points stay on a licence for three years, meaning drivers could potentially face higher insurance costs for years to come.

“It is important for drivers to always be honest about the number of penalty points they have. If they fail to declare them, even unintentionally, their policy could be invalidated and the insurer may refuse to pay out in the event of a claim.”

CompareNI helps hundreds of thousands of drivers every year find savings on car insurance. 

References:

*https://www.psni.police.uk/latest-news/psni-speed-enforcement-cameras-can-travel-anywhere-any-road-time

**https://www.psni.police.uk/sites/default/files/2026-07/Motoring%20offences%20monthly%20update%20to%20end%20May%202026.pdf

Survey: CompareNI.com’s findings are based on a randomised survey of 700 respondents across Northern Ireland during July 2026, which represents a margin of error of approximately 5% at a 95% confidence level.