Worst speed limit breakers: Cars, vans or lorries?

Half (50%) of car drivers broke the speed limit on 30mph roads in 2022 compared to 45% on motorways and 11% on national speed limit single carriageway roads, according to new data from the Department for Transport.

The DfT figures also revealed that 48% of vans exceeded the speed limit on motorways compared to 51% on 30mph roads.

However, only 2% of articulated HGVs exceeded the speed limit on motorways, compared to 35% on national speed limit single carriageway roads and 39% on 30mph roads.

“It’s concerning to see that every year half of drivers exceed the limit on 30mph roads, with more than a fifth (22%) last year driving more than five miles an hour too fast,” said the RAC’s Simon Williams.

“The implications of speeding on these roads is likely to be greater than on faster roads, not least as they’re generally in areas with more pedestrians and cyclists.

“One possible explanation for why speed limit compliance is so much worse compared to other roads is that drivers may be used to looking for speed limit signs, which are much less prevalent on 30mph roads as generally speaking the presence of streetlights indicates the limit is 30mph.

“While drivers should know this, perhaps there is a case for the use of more ‘repeater’ signs in 30mph areas so there is no doubt.”