Traffic cops numbers continue to fall as more than half of drivers say careless driving won't be caught – The AA
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Latest policing figures show further reduction in Roads Traffic Units
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55% of drivers think middle lane hoggers and tailgaters get away with it
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More than eight out of 10 say more traffic police would make communities safer
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“The public wants to see a proper visible presence on our roads, not just an assumption that a camera will deal with it” says AA’s head of roads policy
The AA is calling for 1,000 more traffic officers, as figures released by the Home Office today* shows that the number of roads policing units continues to fall.
As at 31 March 2026, just 4,143 dedicated traffic officers were policing the roads across England and Wales. A reduction of six officers 12 months ago, but a 1,094 fall from peak traffic officer numbers in 2016.
Getting away with it?
In a recent poll carried out by The AA, more than half (55%**) of drivers say acts of careless driving such as middle lane hogging and tailgating are leading to millions of motorists getting away with it due to a lack of roads police. Similarly, drivers believe other offences such as not wearing a seatbelt (47%), using a hand-held mobile phone (46%) and drug driving (43%) are believed to be going uncaptured due to a lack of roads policing.
However, there is a clear call for more roads policing as 88% say that a more visible roads policing presence would make their communities safer, while 79% say crime such as vehicle theft, drug dealing and human trafficking could be better tackled with more traffic units.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for The AA, said; “Drivers are telling us loud and clear that they want traffic offences to be dealt with, but the continuous fall in traffic police is making it easier for people to get away with it.
“Be it drink or drug driving, driving without insurance or using a defective car, too many people think it is going unpunished. While there is wide acceptance that cameras play an important role in helping to police the roads, drivers are concerned that forces are becoming too reliant on them.
“The public wants to see a proper visible presence on our roads, not just an assumption that a camera will deal with it. We need at least 1,000 more cops in cars to help keep or roads safe, but also tackle wider crime within our communities.”
* Police workforce, England and Wales: 31 March 2026 - GOV.UK – Data taken from Table F1
** Yonder received 12,479 responses from AA members to its online poll between the 15th to 20th May 2026. Yonder is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
