Safety fears have been raised after a survey indicated many drivers view speed limits as targets. Seven out of 10 (72%) drivers polled for the RAC said they tried to drive as close to limits as possible. Some 81% of respondents said they regularly saw people “excessively speeding”, with 55% saying there was a culture among UK road users that it was acceptable to speed.
The survey suggested increased use of average-speed cameras was the most popular way to tackle the issue, with 39% of drivers backing this idea. This was followed by radar-activated signs that display the limit against drivers’ actual speed, which were supported by 36% of drivers.
Department for Transport (DfT) figures show 314 people died in crashes on Britain’s roads in 2023 in which a driver exceeding the speed limit was a contributory factor. This was at least a 10-year high. The RAC survey indicated there had been a rise in the percentage of drivers breaking speed limits.
Some 58% admitted speeding on motorways “frequently” or “occasionally”, up from 57% in 2023. The figure was 50% for 20mph roads (up from 46%), 42% for 30mph roads (up from 40%), and 47% for 60mph roads (up from 45%). RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis 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.
