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Corporation Street in Birmingham recorded 100,985 penalty charge notices (PCNs) in the 12 months to April 2026, according to figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request, making it the street with the highest number of reported driving penalties in the latest UK-wide comparison. The penalties cover offences including Clean Air Zone breaches, parking contraventions and violations of driving restrictions along the city-centre route.
The figures, obtained by NetVoucherCodes from councils across the UK, identified the roads generating the largest number of PCNs. Corporation Street, which runs through central Birmingham from the area around New Street Station towards James Watt Queensway, recorded substantially more penalties than the other roads included in the comparison.
A substantial proportion of the penalties are understood to be linked to Birmingham's Clean Air Zone (CAZ), which operates around the clock, every day of the year. Birmingham introduced its Category D Clean Air Zone in June 2021 as part of efforts to reduce pollution by charging the most polluting vehicles entering the designated city-centre area.
The zone covers the area within the A4540 Middleway. Under the national Clean Air Zone framework, Birmingham's Category D scheme can apply charges to cars, vans, minibuses, taxis, private-hire vehicles, buses and heavy goods vehicles that fail to meet the required emissions standards.
For motorists unfamiliar with the city's restrictions, a failure to pay the required Clean Air Zone charge can result in a PCN. The Traffic Penalty Tribunal confirms that Birmingham Clean Air Zone PCNs can be challenged through the prescribed representations and appeals process.
Daily Dazzling Dawn understands that the 100,985 figure should not be interpreted as 100,985 Clean Air Zone penalties alone. The reported total covers PCNs recorded on Corporation Street and includes different types of driving and parking-related contraventions.
The scale of the Birmingham figure becomes clearer when compared with other heavily ticketed roads identified in the same research.
Irvine Street in Liverpool ranked second, with 74,708 PCNs recorded during the period. The penalties generated approximately £909,000 in revenue for the local authority.
Tottenham Court Road in central London ranked third, with Camden Council recording 59,329 PCNs during 2025-26. Those penalties generated approximately £4.1 million, according to the figures cited in the research.
Other roads recording large numbers of penalties included North Worple Way in Richmond upon Thames, with 43,861 PCNs, and the J30 off-slip towards J31 at the Purfleet Interchange in Thurrock, where 41,817 PCNs were issued.
The wider comparison was based on information supplied by 160 councils, giving an indication of how concentrated enforcement can become on particular roads where several restrictions operate simultaneously.
The research also identified several other roads with tens of thousands of PCNs over the same period. Corporation Street in Preston recorded 39,267 penalties, while Oxford Street in Manchester accounted for 32,695.
Arundel Gate in Sheffield followed with 31,543 PCNs, while Oldfield Lane South in Ealing recorded 31,252.
The figures highlight how motorists can encounter multiple forms of enforcement within busy urban areas, particularly where parking controls, restricted routes, bus lanes and emissions-based charging operate in close proximity.
The financial impact extends well beyond individual streets. The figures cited by NetVoucherCodes show that councils including Westminster, Islington, Lambeth, Redbridge and Haringey recorded some of the highest overall revenues from penalty charges.
Westminster was reported to have collected around £37 million, followed by Islington at £29 million and Lambeth at £25 million. Redbridge and Haringey each generated approximately £22 million, while Manchester was reported at £20 million.
However, the number of PCNs issued does not automatically translate into an equivalent amount of money collected. Discounts, successful challenges, unpaid penalties and different penalty levels can all affect the final revenue received by a council.
Drivers entering Birmingham's Clean Air Zone are advised to check their vehicle's compliance and whether a charge applies before travelling. GOV.UK provides the official Clean Air Zone vehicle-checking and payment service, while Birmingham City Council provides facilities for motorists to view and deal with individual PCNs.
Motorists who believe a Birmingham Clean Air Zone PCN has been issued incorrectly can make representations to the council. If those representations are rejected, an appeal can subsequently be made to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal under the applicable grounds.
The 100,985 penalties recorded on Corporation Street underline the importance of understanding Birmingham's road restrictions before entering the city centre. For drivers, a journey through a familiar route can result in a penalty if emissions, parking or traffic restrictions are overlooked.
