Company car drivers are accruing almost a fifth more parking fines compared with three years ago, according to new research.

Data published by leasing company Lex Autolease showed that £4.4 million of parking penalties were handed out to its fleet of 317,000 vehicles last year.

This is equivalent to £14.04 per vehicle and represents a rise of 18% compared with the 2012 figure of £11.86.

Fines for driving in bus lanes have risen by 35% over the same period, from £2.61 to £3.52 per vehicle.

A total of £11.1 million in penalties were given to Lex Autolease vehicles last year, according to the data released exclusively to the Press Association.

This includes offences such as stopping in a junction box and failing to pay the congestion charge, but does not include speeding as those fines are sent directly to the driver.

AA president Edmund King urged drivers to be more alert as some local authorities appear to be "cashing in on motoring infringements".

He went on: "We are concerned that the use of cameras to police bus lanes and junctions in some areas appears to be more about raising revenue than improving safety, as the signs and lines are unclear.

"Drivers also need to be more vigilant about the rules of the road rather than wasting money on fines."

Lex Autolease's head of fleet operations, Guy Mason, claimed the figures should be "of real concern" to business leaders.

He said: "There has been an increase in investment in bus lane cameras and traffic wardens by local authorities, meaning company car drivers should no longer feel they can simply get away with so-called minor misdemeanours.

"Though more than three quarters of the offences committed are classed as minor traffic infringements, the financial impact of such offences is far from minimal and it is clear that businesses need to do much more to change the driving habits of employees.

"The economic impact of investing in driver training should be incentive enough for businesses to meet this challenge head on."