Drivers prone to speeding on 20mph roads, figures suggest [UK]

BBC News ^ | 25 June 2025 | Miguel Roca-Terry & Alex Emery

[Olog-hai]

They were rolled out across Britain to cut speeds and prevent traffic accidents in built-up areas. But new figures suggest that the vast majority of drivers are speeding along many stretches of roads with 20 mph limits.

According to the Department for Transport, three-quarters of drivers exceed the limit on “free-flowing” sections of 20-mph roads in England — those with no cameras, sharp bends, junctions or traffic calming measures.

Half of drivers who admitted to speeding and were spoken to by the RAC said they sped on such roads because they felt the limit was “inappropriate” — a view also reflected by those spoken to by the BBC.

The DfT figures also show that a record number of people — 1.84 million — attended speed awareness courses in the UK last year.

The data was collected in 2024 from automated traffic counters on “free-flowing” 20-mph roads in England. The average speed recorded was 24 mph — but about 10% of vehicles exceeded 30 mph. …

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TOPICS: Society; Travel
KEYWORDS: speeding; speedlimits; tooslow; uk

[Henchster]

"Do they measure in mph in the UK?"

It's England, therefore...

They measure their speed in miles per hour.
They measure their mileage in miles-per-gallon - that's an IMPERIAL gallon - so it is 25% generous and makes it difficult to compare with American cars.
Here's the kicker: They buy their gas by the LITER!

Like I said, it's England!

[Olog-hai]

If they had to view their gas prices by imperial gallon, it wouldn’t look as nice. Right now, the average is about £6.12 per imperial gallon ($8.19), or £5.10 per US gallon ($6.83).

[Sir_Ed]

They did that here in Southern Oregon: changed a lot of city streets from 25 to 20 mph and it drives us crazy, it’s way too slow.

Medford changed their Main Street to 20 mph and now hardly anyone drives on it anymore. Businesses that depend on cars bringing customers are losing money hand over fist!

Bureaucrats are so twisted...

[GingisK]

I believe speed limits are used to absolve government entities of liability. They do not actually pertain to safety.

[Sirius Lee]

Heck, my 4Runner will go that fast at idle in Drive.

It is physically impossible to go 20mph or slower on my Ducati in gear. Tall gearing and all that.

[from occupied ga]

They were rolled out across Britain to cut speeds and prevent traffic accidents in built-up areas

Start the article with a lie as the very first sentence. It's the BBC so you know there are going to be massive falsehoods in it somewhere. The speed limits were lowered to punish individuals who have the effrontery to drive their own cars rather than take 5 times as long or more on public transport. Nothing to do with safety when you lower from 25 or 30 to 20.

[pierrem15]

I’m in Poland right now and the number of 30, 40, or 50kph limits is ludicrous. As a consequence, everyone speeds unless there’s a speed camera or speed trap.

The main problem I see are a handful of people driving insanely fast, like 90mph on narrow winding 2 lane roads.

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

Despite the trend towards metrication, some things haven’t changed. The speed in mph was kept for safety reasons because it was felt that accidents would soar as people got confused between mph and kph so they left it the same. People still tend to think of people’s height in feet and inches too. The pint was kept for cultural reasons.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Thanks.

[minnesota_bound]

‘Harry Potter’ Star Emma Watson Banned from Driving for Speeding
https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2025/07/16/harry-potter-star-emma-watson-banned-from-driving-for-speeding/

I am picturing her in the jail shower with the other women who were speeding....