A single street in Birmingham, Corporation Street at Aston Road (inbound), has been revealed as the top location in the UK for driving fines, with more penalties issued there than anywhere else across the country.
During the 2024/25 financial year, a staggering 62,725 penalty charge notices (PCNs) were handed out to motorists along this city centre route, located where the street meets the A38 Aston Expressway, according to data gathered from councils nationwide.
The majority of these fines were related to Clean Air Zone (CAZ) offences—drivers entering the zone without paying face penalties of up to £120. Birmingham City Council, however, has not disclosed the exact revenue generated from these fines.
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This discovery forms part of a broader national analysis identifying which single street within each UK council area issued the highest number of fines and generated the most income over the past year.
Nationally, councils collected over £530 million in PCNs in that period. Of this, more than £42.1 million came solely from fines issued on the worst-offending streets within each local authority.
While Birmingham leads in total fines issued, the street generating the greatest revenue was Station Parade in Barking and Dagenham, which amassed over £2 million from 33,440 tickets—representing 14 percent of all PCNs issued by that council.
In Stockport, Heaton Lane alone accounted for 57 percent of all fine notices distributed by the borough council.
Notably, six of the top ten streets across the UK each generated more than £1 million in fines during the year.
The research also indicates that receiving PCNs is a widespread experience among drivers: 57 percent of UK motorists reported having been fined at least once, with 12 percent admitting to multiple fines on the same street.
Moreover, one in five drivers believe that Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) or newer initiatives like Clean Air Zones increase the likelihood of receiving penalties on certain roads.
Matt Crole-Rees, car insurance expert at Confused.com, advises drivers to thoroughly understand signage and restrictions, especially in areas with Clean Air Zones, and to carefully scrutinize any PCN before deciding to pay or appeal.
“Penalty charge notices are a frequent concern, particularly in busy urban areas,” he said. “While they aim to improve road safety, many motorists feel the system can be unclear or unfair. Confusing signs, evolving road rules, and limited parking options raise the risk of fines.”
Crole-Rees adds that unclear signage or road markings may lead to incorrectly issued fines, which can sometimes be successfully challenged.
“Knowing how PCNs operate and what to look for can help drivers avoid unnecessary costs during a time when driving expenses are already high,” he concluded.