40% of drivers support 20mph default speed limit

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【Summary】Two-fifths of drivers want the default speed limit in built-up areas to be lowered from 30mph to 20mph, according to new research. Road deaths and serious injuries caused by driver speed rose significantly last year, with a 10% increase in deaths and a 20% increase in deaths caused by drivers exceeding the speed limit. Despite this, more than a third of drivers admitted to driving faster than the speed limit.

FutureCar Staff Nov 20, 2023 10:16 PM PT

40% of drivers support 20mph default speed limit

According to new research, nearly 40% of drivers want the default speed limit in built-up areas to be reduced from 30mph to 20mph. This comes as road deaths and serious injuries caused by speeding drivers have increased significantly in the past year. Analysis of Government road casualty data by road safety charity Brake revealed a 10% rise in road deaths, with 1,766 people losing their lives on UK roads. The analysis also found a 20% increase in road deaths caused by drivers exceeding the speed limit.

In addition to the analysis, Brake conducted a public opinion survey with over 2,000 drivers. The survey found that while a minority of drivers supported a default 20mph speed limit, 92% of drivers believe that speed limits are crucial for road safety. However, the survey also revealed that over a third of drivers admitted to sometimes or often driving faster than the speed limit, and 40% believed that driving slightly over the limit doesn't matter.

Brake is releasing these survey results at the beginning of Road Safety Week, their largest annual road safety campaign. The charity is calling for a national conversation about speed to raise awareness of the dangers of excessive and inappropriate speed. Ross Moorlock, interim CEO at Brake, emphasized the importance of taking responsibility for each other's safety on the road.

Road Safety Week coincides with the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, during which people around the world honor those who have been killed or seriously injured on roads. Brake worked with local councils to illuminate public buildings and landmarks in yellow as a sign of support for road victims.

This year, over 3,400 schools, communities, organizations, and emergency services have signed up to participate in Road Safety Week. Brake has provided free resources to participants, including toolkits, lesson plans, and assemblies for schools, as well as factsheets, films, and posters for businesses and campaign groups.

During this Road Safety Week, Brake encourages everyone to engage in conversations about speed and to question why so many people still choose to drive faster than the speed limit. The campaign is supported by sponsors Arval UK, Autoglass, and DHL Supply Chain, and aligns with the Department for Transport's Think! campaign.

Brake's sponsors, Arval UK and Autoglass, expressed their commitment to raising awareness about the dangers of speeding. Arval UK will be encouraging its employees and customers to get involved in Road Safety Week, while Autoglass will promote responsible driving and avoiding excessive speeds.

The article also includes data on the number of people killed or seriously injured on UK roads in 2021 and 2022, broken down by region. It shows varying changes in the number of fatalities and injuries across different regions of the country.

The article concludes with data on the number of people killed in crashes where speed was a contributing factor in Britain in 2021 and 2022.