Half of drivers think breaking the speed limit is acceptable

Half of all drivers in the UK, some 20 million people, believe it is acceptable to break the speed limit, according to new research.

According to the poll, commissioned by Direct Line Car Insurance, the average speed at which motorists feel it is ‘acceptable’ to drive above the set limit is 26mph in a 20mph zone (29 per cent above the limit) and 56mph in a 50mph zone (12 per cent above the limit).

This fast and loose attitude could be why nearly two in five (39 per cent, or 16 million Brits) of drivers have been caught speeding.

Those caught typically go far beyond the speed drivers deem to be ‘acceptable’, with those caught in a 30mph zone travelling an average of 37mph (23 per cent over the limit), in a 40mph zone they typically drove at 51mph (28 per cent over) and those in a 50mph zone drove at 61mph (22 per cent over).

The majority of drivers are caught speeding in 30mph zones (55 per cent), followed by 40mph (20 per cent) and 50mph (12 per cent) zones. Just one in 12 (eight per cent) of those caught speeding are caught in 70mph zones, yet these are considered the most appropriate place to speed.

Motorways (37 per cent) and dual carriageways (24 per cent) are seen as the most acceptable roads for speeding, while just two per cent believe it is acceptable to speed in traffic calming zones. Over three quarters (78 per cent), some 31 million adults, admit to speeding, with over two million drivers (five per cent) speeding on every journey they make, while a further 4.7 million (12 per cent) say they speed on most of their journeys.

The South West is the speeding capital of the UK, where 84 per cent of drivers admit to speeding, while ‘only’ 71 per cent of drivers in Yorkshire report that they exceed the speed limit.

When asked why they speed, half of speeders (51 per cent) admit to doing so without realising it, but slow down when they notice. However, a third (34 per cent) deliberately speed when the road is empty, while a fifth (19 per cent) do so when they are running late. One in 20 (five per cent) admit they speed because they enjoy the thrill of driving quickly.

Rob Miles, director of car insurance at Direct Line commented: “Speeding is one of the biggest causes of accidents and casualties on UK roads. The research suggests that it is often not deliberate, as drivers may be unaware that they may are creeping above the limit. However, speed limits are set for a reason and 20mph and 30mph zones are often around schools, hospitals and other highly pedestrianised zones, where going over the limit could prove fatal in the event of an accident.”