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Speeding contributes to the 36,000 serious injuries and 3,400 deaths that occur on Britain's roads each year. Around two thirds of all crashes in which people are killed or seriously injured (identified in our statistics as KSIs) occur in built up areas where the speed limit means that drivers should be travelling at 40mph or less.
The 30mph limit for most residential areas is not a random figure. It is set because there is a substantial difference in the risk of causing death or serious injury when driving even just a few miles above 30mph.
Government research has shown:
- that at 40mph, 85% of people hit by vehicles die, compared to 20% at 30mph (at 20mph it is just 5%)
- an average family car travelling at 35mph will need an extra 21 feet (six metres) to stop than one travelling at 30mph, no matter how good the driver is
- the force of the impact on a cyclist or pedestrian is increased by a third when hit at 35mph rather than 30mph
- it has been estimated that for each 1mph reduction in average speed, accident frequency is reduced by 5%
- it is not safer to drive faster at night - casualty rates are double that during daylight hours due to the higher speeds because of less traffic, higher alcohol consumption, tiredness and darkness
The simple fact is that speeding is an unnecessary contributor to the number of casualties on our roads and even when motorists are observing the limit they may still be driving at an inappropriate speed for the conditions. |
