Practically a half of all motorists admit to breaking the pace restrict on 60mph nation roads – the very best stage since 2016, in keeping with new RAC knowledge.
Some 48% of the three,102 drivers questioned for the RAC Report on Motoring say they’ve pushed sooner than the restrict prior to now yr on these roads – up from 44% in 2021 and matching the very best determine ever seen by the RAC in 2016.
Eight per cent confess to having carried out this often, whereas 40% say they’ve carried out it sometimes on as much as half of their journeys on these roads.
In 2021 514 individuals had been killed in a complete of 11,827 collisions on 60mph non-built-up roads – a fatality charge of 4%, which is greater than on motorways.
On motorways and high-speed twin carriageways, the UK’s quickest roads, as many as 60% of drivers say they’ve damaged the 70mph restrict, both on most journeys (16%), or on as much as half of their journeys (43%) within the final 12 months.
That is up by 5 share factors in comparison with 2021 when 55% admitted to having exceeded the restrict. The 60% determine is the most important share seen by the RAC since 2017, when 66% owned as much as this. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless down on the document of 70% reported in each 2015 and 2016.
The share who pace on city roads has modified little or no prior to now 12 months with 40% of drivers saying they’ve exceeded the 30mph restrict at the very least sometimes, in comparison with 41% in 2021, whereas 46% have damaged the restrict on 20mph roads, a determine unchanged on the yr earlier than.
The most typical motive drivers give for exceeding the motorway 70mph restrict is that they’re travelling on the identical pace as different motorists (42%).
The identical justification is utilized by 32% of those that break 60mph limits – the most well-liked clarification given for exceeding the restrict on these roads.
Virtually half of drivers who’ve exceeded the pace restrict in 20mph zones say it’s because they assume the restrict is inappropriate for that exact highway.
Most drivers (69%) assume motorists solely adhere to 20mph limits when there’s enforcement or bodily traffic-calming measures in place, whereas 65% say that indicators warning of pace cameras close by assist them keep on with the restrict.
And, half (52%) say they might be against further 20mph limits being launched of their native space. Nonetheless, the same proportion (48%) consider some 60mph limits on unclassified rural roads needs to be diminished.
“The current enhance within the proportion of drivers admitting to rushing on 60mph rural roads is extraordinarily worrying as extra individuals lose their lives yearly in collisions on these roads than on another,” stated RAC highway security spokesman Simon Williams.
