Male motorists are almost one-and-a-half times more likely to have a driving conviction than their female counterparts, according to an AA Insurance study based on its one million-strong insurance portfolio.

Overall, 18% of motorists have at least one conviction, while 4% have two or more. This compares with 14% in a similar AA survey carried out a decade ago.

Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance, says: “The vast majority of convictions—85%—are for speeding offences. [The] second most likely offence is for jumping traffic lights (9%), while a worrying 2% are drink-drive offences. Men are more than twice as likely to have a drink-drive conviction than women.” Driving without insurance or while using a hand-held mobile telephone are also common offences.

The UK’s most law-abiding motorists are in Northern Ireland with just 9% of men and 6% of women holding motoring convictions. Drivers in the Midlands topped the list with 31.5% of men and 16.6% of women having been convicted for a driving offence.

Mr Douglas adds: “Most people won’t be surprised to find that younger drivers are most likely to have convictions. Almost a quarter of men in the 25-34 age bracket (23.4%) have at least one motoring conviction. Men aged 25-34 and 35-44 are equally likely to have two or more convictions (6.3%). But for women, those aged 35-44 are more likely to have picked up a motoring offence with 18% overall having done so and 4% with two or more to their name.”

Mr Douglas adds that the rising number of speed cameras could be a significant factor in the increase in driving convictions over the last ten years. “It’s also noticeable that the gap between men and women with convictions is closing,” he says. “A decade ago, 11% of women had convictions; today it’s 15%, a rise of 4%. And today, 20% of men have a conviction, a rise of 3%.”

Mr Douglas concludes: “Whatever your age or sex, insurers take notice of driving offences, especially multiple offenders and this is reflected in premiums. That’s because regular offenders are much more likely to make an insurance claim than those who have a clean license. Keeping the right side of the law is one of the best ways to keep your insurance premiums in check.”