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Speeding Fines Almost As High As Driver Ignorance
Article by: rob brady
Date: 29 Mar 2012
Amidst proposals to increase speeding fines for convicted motorists, data has suggested that the total number of speeding motorists caught on British roads increased over the past year, with driver ignorance named as one of the main contributors.
The figures, which were compiled from numerous counties across the UK, showed that the total number of speeding motorists had risen by 6% in 2011, with these drivers reaching an average speed of 56 mph - 2 mph higher than the average figure for such motorists in 2010.
The research, which was undertaken by insurer LV=, also showed that many of these drivers were repeat offenders. A survey of more than 1,500 drivers claimed that 9% had been caught speeding since 2009, with 17% of them being caught on more than one occasion.
Driver ignorance was named as one of the main causes for the misdemeanours as 52% of respondents admitted they were unaware of the speed limit on rural roads without street lights. Approximately one third didn't realise there was a 60 mph limit in place on single carriageways and a staggering 71% failed to identify the correct speed limit on rural roads, residential streets, single carriageways, dual carriageways and motorways.
Of course, not all of the convicted drivers committed their offence unintentionally, with just under half (41%) admitting that they regularly flout the 70 mph on Britain's fastest roads if they think they can get away with it.
With motorways set to trial a new 80 mph limit following Government proposals, this means these drivers could soon be put back on the right side of the law.
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| Comments
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 Posted by 253 on Thu Mar 29, 2012 6:10 pm |
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It was always thus.
Triumph Tbird 1700. And now a Bonnie T100. |
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| Posted by Guivre46 on Thu Mar 29, 2012 9:44 pm |
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Well as discussed elsewhere, they'll take notice when their insurance renewal premium beats even their ignorance quotient.
Mike R [aka Wyvern46]
Go 530T - unsupported
Go550 Live [not renewed]
Kia In-dash Tomtom |
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| Posted by spook51 on Fri Mar 30, 2012 6:50 am |
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| 253 Wrote: | | It was always thus. |
No it wasn't. 20mph, 40mph and 50mph speed limits were introduced relatively recently and have been applied haphazardly across the country due to differing policies from county councils.
For example, Somerset CC introduced 40mph 'buffer zones' when entering a 30mph zone - other county councils didn't. Lancashire CC is introducing 20mph limits on all urban roads, other councils aren't.
This inconsistent application of limits that has contributed to drivers' and riders' confusion but that's no excuse - that 71% couldn't identify various speed limits is disgraceful; vehicle users are always supposed to know the limit for the road they are on.
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| Posted by 253 on Fri Mar 30, 2012 11:50 am |
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| spook51 Wrote: | | vehicle users are always supposed to know the limit for the road they are on. |
It was ever thus.
Triumph Tbird 1700. And now a Bonnie T100. |
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| Posted by Graculus on Sat Mar 31, 2012 7:03 am |
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| spook51 Wrote: | | Lancashire CC is introducing 20mph limits on all urban roads. |
All urban roads? I suspect not. You may need to qualify that statement a little.
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| Posted by M8TJT on Sat Mar 31, 2012 7:16 am |
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I don't think that Spook was trying to produce a definitive list, just pointing out the inconsistency of speed limit changes between different authorities.
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| Posted by spook51 on Sat Mar 31, 2012 11:21 am |
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| Graculus Wrote: | | spook51 Wrote: | | Lancashire CC is introducing 20mph limits on all urban roads. |
All urban roads? I suspect not. You may need to qualify that statement a little. |
If you look on Lancashire County Council's website you'll find maps of the proposed phasing in of 20mph zones . It is claimed these zones will be residential areas and near schools but in many places they appear to include whole towns including major through routes - 'residential areas' seems to be very loosely defined.
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| Posted by aj2052 on Sat Mar 31, 2012 11:29 pm |
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Surely this is just an increase in arbartery spped limits that do not necceseraly fit the actual road conditions, but what about the pushing of green issues for reducing carbon emissions, the emissions of engines relate purely to rpm/load so to maintain 20mph needs you be possibly in second gear at the same rpm over a longer time to maintain the same distance at 30mph thus increasing emissions by 33%.
Personally i dont think 20mph adds anymore to 30mph for safety, and neither am I green and also i didnt get my calculator out so dont shout at me, just trying to offset the view.
Moto G5s Plus, Sygic 17.4.8 |
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| Posted by M8TJT on Sun Apr 01, 2012 8:01 am |
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| aj2052 Wrote: | | Personally i dont think 20mph adds anymore to 30mph for safety, and neither am I green {snip]. |
I think you are right about the green issues. My opinion is that very few people actually give a toss about carbon emissions and 'save the planet'. It's only a big con to exract more money out of the majority due to the misguided theories of a tiny minority, based on incomplete data from dubious research . As the UKs carbon emissions is only a tiny proportion of the world's man made output. it would make virtually no difference whatsoever if the UK reduced it's carbon emissions to zero. So why the heck is it costing us all so much to try to reduce them.
However, safety is a different thing alltogether. Highway code gives stopping distances as 40ft at 20mph and 75 feet at 30mph. This is a reduction to a little over half the distance at 20mph compared with 30mph. Not only that, if you hit a person at 30 you are likely to do them far more damage than at 20. So a greatly reduced stopping distance and probably less injury if you do hit someone obviously contributes to road safety and anyone who thinks differently is living in cloud cuckoo land.
PS. I do think that the 20mph limit is ridiculous in some places. I support it where there are lots of kids (and adults behaving like kids), but not in all urban areas. And my thoughts are just for road safety reasons.
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| Posted by DennisN on Sun Apr 01, 2012 8:17 am |
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| aj2052 Wrote: | | the emissions of engines relate purely to rpm/load so to maintain 20mph needs you be possibly in second gear at the same rpm over a longer time to maintain the same distance at 30mph thus increasing emissions by 33%. |
Hmm. I too haven't got me calculator out, but if the engine does 30mph at optimum rpm/load in 4th gear, let's say it's doing 2,000 rpm. But to do 20mph at same optimum thingy it needs 2,000rpm in 3rd gear. But the significance is that at 20mph it takes 1.5 hours to do 30 miles, whereas at 30mph optimum it takes only an hour. So the increase is 50%. I wish Anita was here - she'd tell us. And I don't know if I'm green TBH. 
Dennis
If it tastes good - it's fattening.
Two of them are obesiting!! |
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| Posted by aj2052 on Sun Apr 01, 2012 12:00 pm |
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TBH i not sure myself if green or not due to both green and safety being pushed at you, but must admit perhaps 20mph is neccesary at schools but generally i do think most motorists do drive within the speed adequate for the surroundings they are in but spoilt by the few, lets face it their are cameras placed in some indiscrimite places and none placed where perhaps they are needed,
My calcs were simply done to highlight the alternate issues.
Moto G5s Plus, Sygic 17.4.8 |
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