Road speed statistics from the UK Department for Transport (DfT) show a general improvement in driver behaviour, although there still remain calls for higher motorway limits.
Overall figures show a drop in speeding across the UK, with the most impressive relating to car drivers using 30mph roads (48kph), where those exceeding the limit fell from 65% in 2001 to 49% in 2006.
The figure was vastly higher a decade ago with 72% of drivers breaking the limit in 1996, but slightly less good news came from a 4% increase in drivers exceeding 40mph on built-up roads.
What is clear from the statistics is that driver behaviour varies considerably according to road type. The highest level of cars travelling more than the limit allows, was on motorways at 54%, although this was a 2% decline from 2005.
The lowest level of excess speeding was on single carriageway roads with a speed limit of 60mph, where 11% of cars were driven too fast.
What might interest the UK”s business travellers driving across Britain”s network is that on major, non-built-up single carriageway roads, a massive 76% of articulated heavy goods vehicles (HGV) exceeded their 40mph limit and 28% by more than 10mph. The average articulated HGV speed on these roads was 46mph, just 2mph less than that for cars.
The survey also revealed a high incidence of HGV speeding on 30mph roads, with 44% of 2-axle HGVs exceeding the limit.
Motorways are the UK”s safest roads and with a total of 2,182m (3,520km), there are fewer crashes per mile than on other roads, although they are more likely to be fatal due to higher speeds. The Conservative Party has said that it would trial 80mph limits on some motorway stretches if it came to power, but the road safety charity Brake, is vehemently opposed, saying that a 10mph increase would result in a 10% casualty rate increase.
The charity noted: ”Brake believes we should be working to educate drivers of staying within the existing limit, rather than pandering to those who are breaking the law.
”We believe the reasons for opposing a motorway speed limit increase are sound, particularly in the UK, where motorways are often plagued by bad weather and congestion.”
Data from the survey was collated from 36 places where a 30 or 40mph limit applies and at 60 more sites. The areas were selected so that speeds were not seriously affected by road layout, traffic congestion or by the proximity of speed cameras.