Safe Speed Forums

12:15am UK, Thursday August 27, 2009
More than four in five motorists break the speed limit, according to a poll of more than 3,000 drivers.
New speeding and drug-driving proposals
Research suggests speeding is 'routine'
As many as 82% of drivers admitted to sometimes or frequently exceeding the limit, the poll by YouGov and insurance company Admiral found.
For male drivers, the figure was as high as 86%, while 78% of women motorists owned up to speeding.
"I'm surprised so many motorists admit to speeding," said Admiral's Sue Longhorn.
"Our research suggests it's not just commonplace, but routine for the vast majority of drivers.

Poll On Speeding
A total of 3,280 motorists responded to the poll.
27% think speed cameras improve road safety - 73% do not
18% reckon more speed cameras should be installed - 82% do not
14% have been caught speeding in the last year
30% say the speed limit should be 20mph on residential streets
71% think the speed limit should be 80mph or higher on motorways
"Speeding is such an emotive issue for motorists, and one area where they feel the Government interferes too much.
"Our research illustrates just how disliked speed cameras are and how suspicious motorists are about the motives of police forces who install them. It would seem that most people think enough is enough."

Safe Speed, an organisation set up to examine the speeding law and enforcement practices told Sky News Online that the vast majority of motorists did drive safely, but according to conditions on the road, not the speed limit.
"The statistics are that the average person will drive thousands of miles or seven years before they have an accident and that is because they instinctively want to drive safely," said Claire Armstrong.
"A motorist will judge what is a safe speed and will drive according to it - and that might not necessarily be what the sign on the side of the road says."
Ms Armstrong says the growth in speed cameras has made driving more dangerous, not less.
"Up until 17 years ago when the road cameras were brought in, we had the safest road statistics in the world. Now you see drivers slamming on their brakes when they come up to a camera, and then speeding up once they pass it - that's not good practice."
She believes speed cameras and ever-decreasing speed limits are purely a money-making exercise.
"The councils see it as a revenue-making opportunity and it's no longer about safety on the roads - that's why motorists are getting so annoyed."