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But because of increasing numbers of speed cameras and extra vigilance by police, 707,918 drivers were sentenced in 2004, a rise of 7 per cent on the previous year.

That was in addition to the estimated 10 million offences dealt with by on-the-spot fines and another one million who are acquitted in court or whose prosecutions are dropped.

Paul Watters, Head of Roads Policy at AA Motoring Trust, said: "I am surprised but pleased because many of these will be hardened offenders who may have been there before.