Renters using vehicles supplied by National Car Rental in London are suffering financially from a clampdown on traffic offences by Transport for London and other local authorities.

Figures by the rental giant show a 96.8% increase in the number of fines incurred by drivers in the capital during the first quarter of this year, compared with the same period last year.

National receives thousands of fines every month for congestion charge, speeding, bus lane and traffic offences incurred by customers renting its vehicles.

It found that fines for failing to pay the congestion charge decreased by almost 10% in January and February 2007 compared to the same months in 2006.

Those figures increased in March 2007 by more than 50% compared to February 2007 suggesting, National bosses say, that the extension of the charging zone in February caught rental drivers off-guard. Interestingly, Lex found that company car drivers managed to deal with the expansion (Fleet News, May 31).

Speeding fines fell year on year by 9% and February saw the lowest number incurred by National customers since March 2003.