-
44% of people claim to have seen more drivers
speeding
-
30mph-limits are the most commonly abused by pandemic
speeders
Nearly half of people have witnessed an increase in drivers
breaking the speed limit during the government lockdown,
according to research carried out by the RAC.
Forty-four percent of UK adults say they have seen
more drivers speeding now than they did before the Government
introduced the coronavirus lockdown. Roads with 30mph limits
appear to be the most abused, with 23% of the 2,020 people
questioned by the RAC saying they had seen drivers very obviously
breaking the law by going too fast.
Fifteen per cent said they had seen drivers breaking
both 20mph and 40mph limits, whereas in 50mph limits only 10%
felt there was an increase in speeders. In 60mph and 70mph limits
the uplift in speeders is far less pronounced, with 6% and 5%
respectively reporting they had seen these limits being broken –
but this still represents an increase in observed speeding on
these roads compared to before the lockdown.
Just under one in 10 (8%) people claimed they have
seen more drivers using handheld mobile phones at the wheel than
they would in normal, non-lockdown conditions. Shockingly, 5% of
those surveyed believed they had witnessed vehicles racing on
public roads.
Evidence from police forces across the country sadly
backs up what people surveyed told the RAC, with the Met Police
clocking one driver doing 134mph in a 40mph zone and Greater
Manchester Police recording a driver going 129mph on the
M62.
According to Department for Transport data, excessive
speed was responsible for 4,652 road traffic collisions – or the
equivalent of 13 road traffic collisions a day during 2018,
although due to how data is recorded this figure may
underestimate the true number of collisions.
RAC road safety spokesman Simon Williams said: “The
frightening conclusion from our research is that a significant
number of irresponsible drivers are taking advantage of quiet
‘lockdown’ roads by driving far too fast, putting lives
unnecessarily at risk.
“Since the Government told the nation to stay at home
many roads have become almost deserted so it’s a concern this is
being seen by some as an opportunity to illegally ignore speed
limits. It would only take a fraction of a second when driving
well over the speed limit for something terrible to happen.
Couple this behaviour with the fact there are many cyclists on
our roads and more people are having to walk in the road to
maintain a safe distance from others on pavements and you have a
recipe for disaster.
“The last thing the NHS needs as it works night and
day to help patients with coronavirus is to have to deal with
people injured in avoidable road traffic collisions caused by
motorists driving far too fast.
“While there are fewer drivers on the road, it
appears police speed traps are more needed now than ever as some
of the speeds in built-up areas appear to be excessive. Some
police forces, including Greater Manchester and The Met, have
already announced crackdowns and it looks as though a similar
approach needs to be taken in other parts of the country. It
seems very wrong that people who drive so far above the limit
should get away scot-free especially during a national
emergency.”
For more information about why motorists should be
more careful when driving on empty roads during the COVID-19
pandemic visit the RAC
website.
Ends
Notes to Editors
* Research carried out by Ragdoll research from
16th- 21st April 2020 with 2,020
respondents.
