RAC Report on Motoring 2016

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2.0 Road safety
2.2 Pushing the limits
There has been no significant
change in the number of motorists
who admit to speeding in 2016
overall. But this year’s research
points to a longer term trend for
drivers to increasingly exceed limits
both on country roads – where
limits may be 50mph or 60mph
– and in the growing number of
urban 20mph zones.
Among all drivers, there has been
an increase in concern regarding
motorists who break traffic laws:
this is a top-four concern for 23%
of those questioned, up from 19%
in 2015.
There has been no change in the
proportion of motorists who say they
frequently or occasionally break the
speed limits on motorways (70%)
or on 30mph urban roads (44%).
But over the past five years, the
number who admit they speed on
country roads has grown from 38%
to 48% (up from 46% in 2015), while
the figure for 20mph roads has risen
from 38% in 2011 to 46% this year
(44% in 2015).
A greater propensity to speed
on country roads is particularly
worrying given that they are
where the majority of fatal
accidents occur13.
According to Department for
Transport statistics published
in June 2016, 51% of fatal
casualties occurred on ‘non-
built-up roads’ in 2015, compared
with 43% on roads in built-up
areas and 6% on motorways.
Overall, however, the DfT figures
showed a welcome fall in the overall
number of casualties last year,
which is particularly good news
given the increase recorded in 2014.
The fact that more drivers say
they exceed the limit on 20mph
roads can be explained in part at
least by the fact that the number
of 20mph zones is thought to have
increased significantly over recent
years. In some areas, local
authorities are applying 20mph
limits to busy through-routes
where users believe they can
safely travel at higher speeds.
13.
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RAC Report on Motoring 2016