Thursday 19th May 2005

Most of us speed -- it's official

Government stats show speeding doesn't kill

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Why is there a 30mph limit here?

Image courtesy www.speedcam.co.uk

The Department for Transport has just published the UK statistics for vehicle speeds in 2004. These statistics relate to the speeds at which drivers choose to drive in free-flow conditions generally across the road network. The latest figures show that the proportion of motorists exceeding the speed limit in 2004 changed very little from 2003 although driving in excess of the speed limit remains at a high level on all types of road.

The figures also support PistonHeads' contention (see link below) that most drivers break speed limits in towns.

The main features of the new statistics released today are:

On roads with 30 mph limits (built-up)

• On roads with a 30 mph speed limit 53 per cent of cars exceeded that limit compared with 58 per cent in 2003; 25 per cent travelled faster than 35 mph, the same as in 2003.
• On 30 mph roads, 24 per cent of motorcycles were travelling at more than 35 mph compared with 29 per cent in 2003.
• The survey also reveals a high incidence of speeding by heavy goods vehicles on built-up 30 mph roads: 49 per cent of 2-axle heavy goods vehicles exceeded the speed limit, 18 per cent by more than 5 mph. This is a reduction from the 2003 levels of 53 and 21 per cent respectively.

On roads with 40 mph limits (built-up)

• On 40 mph roads 27 per cent of cars exceeded the limit, with 10 per cent exceeding 45 mph, the same percentages as observed in 2003 and 2002.
• 19 per cent of motorcycles on 40 mph roads were travelling at more than 45 mph. This is the same level as in 2003.

On other roads (non-built-up)

• More than half the cars on motorways and 48 per cent of cars on dual carriageways travelled faster than the speed limit; 19 per cent were travelling faster than 80 mph on motorways, and 14 per cent on dual carriageways.
• The proportion of motorcycles travelling at more than 80 mph on motorways remained at 28 per cent in 2004; whilst on dual carriageways the proportion fell from 23 per cent to 21 per cent.
• On major, non-built-up single carriageway roads, 78 per cent of articulated HGVs were exceeding their 40 mph limit (28 per cent by more than 10 mph). The average speed recorded for articulated HGVs on these roads was 46 mph, just 2 mph less than the average speed of cars (48 mph), for which the limit is 60 mph.

Link

• PH speed limit story

[targarama]

So the Scamera people will take this data add some spin and come up with:

Speed Cameras are proven to reduce speeds in built-up areas

A substantial reduction in the speed of both cars and motorcycles has been measured. Recent surveys show a drop of 5% in the number of cars exceeding the speed limit.

Speed cameras work. Bullsh1t. Crumble. Ru88ish.

[puggit]

I would have thought that the Scamerati would look at these figures, and rub their hands with glee!

More $$$$$ !!!

A continued revenue stream, very handy

[neil_c]

targarama said:

So the Scamera people will take this data add some spin and come up with: Speed Cameras are proven to reduce speeds in built-up areas A substantial reduction in the speed of both cars and motorcycles has been measured. Recent surveys show a drop of 5% in the number of cars exceeding the speed limit. Speed cameras work. Bullsh1t. Crumble. Ru88ish.

I think they will try, but most of the scameras I see are on nice clear open roads out of town.

[xm5er]

I would contend that the real figures for speeding are actually even higher than that.

Where ever and when ever I travel, in keeping up with other traffic, I speed and I think most people do. So far I haven't killed anyone or myself in nearly twenty yraes of driving.

(Insert usual proviso for poor conditions, past schools at letting out time etc)

[KB_S1]

xm5er said:

I would contend that the real figures for speeding are actually even higher than that. )

Given the size of q's that I generate in 30 and 40 zones I would have to agree with that. On my favourite route to and from Uni it is usually HGV's as well, I have even been overtaken by an HGV in a town high street whilst doing 30. He held me up for ages after in the NSL, even blocked me a couple of times.
Mind you not many q's behind me in NSL's, very rarely within a legal speed limit then.

[GKP]

"AHEM!" [pushes chair back and stands up, head held high]

"Hello, my name is Graham and I speed"


Ahh, that feels sooo much better.

[ed.]

Correct me if I am seem to have the wrong end of the stick here but if the majority of the driving population do not agree with law then the law is wrong.

[supraman2954]

ed. said:

Correct me if I am seem to have the wrong end of the stick here but if the majority of the driving population do not agree with law then the law is wrong.

The majority of the population (who went to the polls) voted in Blair, I can honestly say that I think they all got it wrong



edited cos alextgreen is a smartass

>> Edited by supraman2954 on Thursday 19th May 21:30

[alextgreen]

supraman2954 said:

The majority of the population voted in Blair, I can honestly say that I think they all got it wrong

Was only a third who actually voted for him, IIRC.

[timsta]

alextgreen said:

supraman2954 said: The majority of the population voted in Blair, I can honestly say that I think they all got it wrong Was only a third who actually voted for him, IIRC.

And I believe that more voted Tory than voted for Labour.

[cotty]

neil_c said:

most of the scameras I see are on nice clear open roads out of town.

Handy no one can see you taking an angle grinder to them

[summit7]

I can't believe like other comments that the figures are so low surely more than the percantages here 'speed'when i drive only a very small minority drive at 30 in a built up area. I actually don't have a problem with 30 in a built up area and I do stick to it. I do have a problem with 70 on an open motorway and 60 on an open single carriageway and I do not like scameras on these 'open' raods.