British motorists are facing escalating financial and legal pressures as separate crackdowns on parking violations and careless driving take effect. Private parking companies bought vehicle-owner data for a record 14.4 million penalty notices in the 2024/25 financial year, a 13 percent rise that more than doubles the volume seen in 2018/19, according to Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency figures. Each ticket can cost up to £100, exposing drivers to a collective charge of almost £3.9 million every day. Motoring groups are renewing calls for the government to revive a shelved statutory code of practice that would cap fees and tighten oversight of the largely self-regulated parking-enforcement industry. At the same time, tougher sentencing guidelines aim to deter dangerous behaviour behind the wheel. The Sentencing Council’s revised framework—backed by the Labour government—allows courts to impose bans of up to 56 days and fines of as much as 250 percent of a driver’s weekly income for mid-range careless-driving offences. The Council notes that reckless or inattentive driving contributes to roughly a quarter of fatal collisions on UK roads. Consumer advocates warn the combination of record parking tickets and harsher court penalties could push motorists’ annual outlays on fines beyond the £1.5 billion already shouldered, with some drivers risking job losses if they lose their licences. Industry bodies argue that without clearer rules and proportionate enforcement, the financial burden on road users will continue to mount.