Safe Speed Forums

The majority of drivers on Britain's roads believe that speeding is an acceptable practice, according to a new report.

A study by the West Yorkshire Casualty Reduction Partnership found that 80 per cent of drivers insist that going over the speed limit is acceptable as long as the speed is appropriate to the road and the conditions and the person behind the wheel is experienced, reports the Craven Herald.

Around ten per cent of those canvassed said that speeding on motorways was permissible, with two per cent insisting that there was nothing wrong with going above the limit late at night.

Of the 3,000 motorists questioned, just seven committed themselves and said that speeding was never acceptable.

The figures give further ammunition to those fighting a long battle against the government's speed camera policy, with most of the country seemingly adamant that speed limits are arbitrary and that going above national limits is not much of an offence.

Indeed, new research by Tesco Personal Finance indicates that more than two in five motorists believe that speed cameras do little to curb drivers' speeds, with the majority stating that physical police patrols are the best way to prevent dangerous driving.

While many insist that breaking the speed limit is permissible in appropriate circumstances, Steve Thornton, chairman of the West Yorkshire Casualty Reduction Partnership, made sure to assert that speeding can be dangerous.

"Drivers who choose to exceed the speed limit are just selfish and need to be more considerate of other road users," he told the Craven Herald.

"They are knowingly putting themselves and everyone around them on the road in harm's way."

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police added: "Speeding motorists can make the consequences of accidents more serious and due to travelling at illegal high speeds, are also often unable to react in time to avoid accidents."

In a recent poll undertaken by Brunel University, just 39 per cent of male motorists were found to comply with the speed limit in areas with speed cameras, compared to 56 per cent of women.

Furthermore, just over half of male drivers thought that the main aim of speed cameras was to generate money from motorists – an indication of the dislike and rebellious reaction to speed limits that cameras can instil in drivers.

Official figures suggest that excessive speed is responsible for a third of all deaths on Britain's roads.

A study by the West Yorkshire Casualty Reduction Partnership found that 80 per cent of drivers insist that going over the speed limit is acceptable as long as the speed is appropriate to the road and the conditions and the person behind the wheel is experienced, reports the Craven Herald.