Study uncovers an awkward truth, men pay more than twice as much in speed camera fines as women
A recent study has shaken up assumptions about who really empties their wallet when a speed camera flashes. The numbers point firmly in one direction. In the United Kingdom, men pay far higher speeding penalties than women. And not just higher, but almost two and a half times greater.
The research was commissioned by OOONO, a company that develops traffic safety devices. Over the past twelve months male drivers paid an average of 804 pounds, roughly 940 euros. Women paid 324 pounds in the same period, about 379 euros. The gap is astonishing. Even more striking, 21 percent of men admitted their fines exceeded 1 000 pounds, or about 1 170 euros. Only 3 percent of women reported the same hit to their budget.
OOONO concluded that behaviour rather than the system itself explains the difference. Their data reveals a pattern that repeats with uncanny consistency. Men check their phones more frequently while driving, 43 percent compared with 26 percent of women. Thirty six percent of men are distracted by in car entertainment systems, while only 15 percent of women say the same.
Fines dent men’s monthly finances more sharply. Thirty five percent said a penalty disrupted their budget. Among women the figure was 24 percent.
The knock on effects are even starker. Eighteen percent of men missed a loan payment after receiving a fine, compared with 8 percent of women. Ten percent of men had to borrow money to cover the cost. Among women the figure was 3 percent.
Men also report distractions from back seat passengers and navigation prompts more frequently. Women are more affected by the glare of oncoming headlights and feel greater discomfort when driving at night or in rain and snow.
Behind the statistics sits a familiar culprit, overconfidence. Men tend to adopt a faster driving style and their sense of risk often fades exactly when attention matters most.
In the broader survey 81 percent of UK drivers said they want a device that warns of speed cameras and hazards without relying on a screen. Many believe screens add more distraction than assistance.
OOONO’s findings align with wider European road safety trends that increasingly favour simple, screen free solutions. At the same time the results highlight an old truth. Risky behaviour often stems from culture rather than technology. And it leaves an open question, whether any gadget can ever tame an overconfident right foot.
