A shocking 81% of drivers say they regularly see people speeding excessively on all types of roads, according to new research from the RAC. Whether it’s motorways, high-speed dual carriageways, or residential streets, speeding appears to be a widespread issue.
On faster roads like motorways, 82% of drivers report seeing others push well past the speed limit. Even on slower 30mph or 20mph streets, 80% say speeding is a common sight.
The risks of speeding are clear in the government’s 2023 road casualty data, which shows that exceeding the speed limit contributed to 21% of fatal crashes – a total of 304 lives lost.
The RAC’s latest report reveals a worrying trend: more drivers admit to breaking speed limits than ever before.
- 20mph zones saw the biggest jump, with half of drivers confessing they’ve gone over the limit – up from 46% in 2023 and just 36% in 2018.
- On motorways, 58% of drivers admitted to going above 70mph ‘frequently’ or ‘occasionally’ – a slight rise from 57% in 2023.
- Even on 60mph roads, the number of drivers breaking the limit climbed to 47% from 45%, while 30mph zones saw an increase to 42% from 40%.
Many drivers appear to see the speed limit as a target rather than a maximum, with 72% saying they try to drive as close to the limit as possible. However, over half (55%) believe there’s a growing culture in the UK that breaking the speed limit is acceptable.
How to Tackle Speeding
Drivers have mixed views on the best ways to address the problem:
- Average-speed cameras are the most popular solution, with 39% supporting their use.
- Radar-activated signs that display drivers’ speed against the limit are backed by 36%.
- Better speed limit signage (31%) and alerts in sat-navs or cars (30%) are also popular options.
Interestingly, only 26% of drivers support more mobile speed cameras, and just 21% want harsher penalties for speeding.
RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis explains: “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.”
Speeding might save a few seconds, but the risks it creates aren’t worth it. It's time for a collective effort to slow down and make roads safer for everyone.
