SPEEDING ON UK ROADS: A growing concern or a cultural acceptance?
New figures from the RAC reveal that 81% of drivers in the UK regularly witness excessive speeding across all types of roads. This behaviour is most prevalent on motorways and high-speed dual carriageways, where 82% of drivers report seeing speed limits routinely ignored. However, concern also extends to urban areas, with 80% noting similar issues on 20mph and 30mph roads.
Government road casualty data from 2023 highlights the dangers. Exceeding the speed limit was a contributory factor in 304 fatal collisions, accounting for 21% of all such incidents.
The RAC’s findings suggest compliance with speed limits is particularly poor on 20mph roads. Half of drivers admit to breaking these limits, up from 46% in 2023. This continues a steady rise from 36% in 2018. Motorways remain the roads where speeding is most common, with 58% of drivers admitting to regularly exceeding 70mph. Speeding on 60mph roads rose to 47%, while 30mph roads saw a smaller increase to 42%.
The data also reveals a cultural issue. Seven-in-10 drivers aim to drive as close to the speed limit as possible, yet over half (55%) believe there is a general acceptance among UK road users that breaking the speed limit is acceptable. Only 23% disagreed with this view.
Proposals to curb speeding vary in popularity. Average-speed cameras are the most supported measure, with 39% of drivers in favour. Radar-activated signs displaying the speed limit alongside a driver’s actual speed are backed by 36%. Better signage is favoured by 31%, while 30% support sat-nav or in-car alerts to warn drivers when they exceed the limit.
More punitive measures, such as mobile speed cameras and stricter sentences, attract less support. Only 26% favour greater use of mobile cameras, and just 21% support harsher penalties for speeding offences.
The findings highlight a persistent and growing challenge in ensuring compliance with speed limits across the UK.
Rod Dennis, RAC Road Safety spokesperson, said: “It’s concerning that our research indicates excessive speeding has become so commonplace because the consequences are very severe – a fact borne out by government data showing it contributes to 21% of all fatal collisions.
“It is particularly worrying that so much excessive speeding observed by drivers appears to take place on 20mph and 30mph roads as this is where the greatest number of vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists and e-scooter riders, are.
“We badly need to bring an end to excessive speeding to keep us all safe. The Government is working on the country’s first road safety strategy for many years, so we hope that tackling this will be treated as a priority.”
