Majority of Drivers Do Not Stick to 20mph Limit, Research Finds

A study by the Department for Transport has found that 87% of drivers do not stick to the speed limit in 20mph zones.

Research into limits

Using automatic traffic counters, the Department for Transport research also found that 22% of drivers exceeded the limit by 10mph or more.

The findings cast doubt on whether it will be effective to convert hundreds of miles of urban roads into 20mph zones, a change from the default limit of 30mph.

It was also found that on 30mph roads 52% of car drivers broke the speed limit, and 46% exceeded the limit on 70mph motorways.

Previous research

Research last year by the Department for Transport also found that cuts to 20mph in urban areas had made “no meaningful difference” to casualty rates, despite the fact that the “majority of residents and drivers” supported their introduction.

In 2016, the British Social Attitude Survey discovered that 69% of respondents were in favour of 20mph limits in residential areas, with 50% in favour of enforcing this limit with the installation of speed bumps.

Changes in London

It was announced this month that Transport for London plan to cut the speed limit to 20mph for main roads in the centre of the capital. This will be monitored by speed cameras and any drivers who breach it will face three penalty points and a £100 fine.

This is an unusual move, as the majority of other 20mph areas are not policed routinely, so drivers who break the limit are unlikely to be penalised for it.

Further information

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