England and Scotland fans risk speeding fines as motorists race to beat World Cup kick-off

Drivers could face a surge in speeding fines during England's World Cup after new data revealed motorists are significantly more likely to break speed limits before major matches.

With England kicking off their 2026 World Cup campaign against Croatia tomorrow night, experts have warned drivers not to rush to pubs, friends' homes or watch parties to catch the action.

Analysis found speeding incidents jumped by 31.5 per cent in the hour before England's Euro 2024 final against Spain.

The company analysed telematics data from thousands of policyholders and compared driving behaviour on the day of the match with normal traffic patterns.

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The figures suggested that many motorists were trying to reach their destinations before kick-off, increasing the likelihood of speeding offences and potentially putting themselves and others at risk.

However, a report found that speeding incidents rose by a further 20.4 per cent in the hour after the final whistle, despite drivers making shorter journeys than usual.

Road traffic patterns also changed dramatically around the match. Traffic volumes fell by around 66 per cent during the game as millions stayed off the roads to watch England play.

However, roads became significantly busier immediately afterwards, with traffic quadrupling in the 20 minutes following the final whistle.

For more than 90 minutes after the match ended, traffic remained higher than normal for a Sunday evening, the report detailed.

Carlo Conner Hill, head of data analytics at ThingCo, said the findings should serve as a warning ahead of England's World Cup fixtures.

He shared: "The elevated speeding data alone is concerning, but it does not exist in isolation. Emotions both before and after a match, especially one with national interest, will be heightened.

"There's also the risk of alcohol consumption. Late-night fatigue is likely to be an issue for the World Cup, with many matches set to finish quite late in the evening."

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He explained how the combination of speeding, alcohol and tiredness can create a much higher risk for motorists while on UK roads.

The warning comes as police forces continue to highlight the dangers of drink and drug-driving during major sporting tournaments.

Government figures show between 290 and 320 people are killed every year in crashes involving drivers over the legal alcohol limit.

Around one in five fatal road collisions involves a driver or rider impaired by alcohol or drugs.

England's clash with Croatia is expected to end close to midnight, raising concerns about drivers heading home late at night when fatigue is already a major factor in road accidents.

More worryingly, the same pattern could be repeated during England's remaining group-stage fixtures against Ghana on June 23 and Panama on June 27.

Experts have now urged insurers to send reminders about speeding, drink-driving and safe travel plans before major matches.

Scotland fans could also find themselves at risk of breaking road rules when they play Morocco on Friday, June 19, and Brazil on Wednesday, June 24.

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