RAC Report on Motoring 2016

RAC Report on Motoring 2016

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 occur 13 . 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. www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reported-road-casualties-in-great-britain-main-results-2015 38