Performance car driving experience company TrackDays.co.uk has warned motorists about the consequences of speeding on public roads.
Based on the Government’s most recent speed limit report, the company found only a slight decrease in the number of cases where the driver was caught exceeding the speed limit.
Dan Jones, head of operations at TrackDays.co.uk, urged drivers who regularly speed to consider how it affects surrounding road users, putting them at risk of a fatal crash.
He explained: “These latest official figures paint a stark picture of the continued speeding on Britain’s public roads, particularly motorways and 30km/h speed limits.
“We urge those speeding to consider other road users and those around them, including pedestrians and cyclists, and the consequences of speeding, not least the potential fines or points for speeding.”
According to the government’s latest figures on speed limits, in 2023 44 percent of motorists were caught speeding 30 km/h on roads such as residential areas.
The number of drivers speeding on motorways was also particularly high: 45 percent of Britons were caught exceeding the speed limit.
Although these numbers are slightly lower than previous years, the Department for Transport has found that the number of crashes caused by speeding vehicles is on the rise and will reach a 10-year high of 1,990 in 2022.
The information comes after Transport Minister Louise Haigh encouraged local authorities to introduce traffic calming measures in their area, including reducing the speed limit on residential roads to 20km/h in response to the problem.
Making the announcement on the Streets Ahead podcast, Ms Haigh suggested the current policy of asking the government for permission was ineffective, as the impact was better understood by the authorities themselves.
Wales currently enforces a 20km/h speed limit on most residential roads, claiming it has helped reduce road accidents by 32%, after Bradford Council recently proposed a similar limit on the city’s 88 roads.
Nevertheless, regardless of the type or restriction of the road, motorists caught speeding face serious consequences.
A speed awareness course is often offered to first-timers, but the minimum fine a driver can receive for breaking the speed limit is £100 and three points on their licence, which in turn can lead to higher car insurance rates.
However, drivers caught driving more than 20km/h over the current speed limit can face even more penalty points on their licence, a driving ban of up to 56 days and, in some cases, a fine of up to 175 per cent of their weekly earnings.
