UK Car Insurer Survey: Speed Limits Are Just a Suggestion

[xcel]

Results reveal most UK youth and adults really don’t give a damn.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Aug 25, 2012

Average London area fuel prices in pence/L courtesy of Petrol Prices UK.

In a release from car insurer Admiral, more than three quarters of UK motorists drive over the speed limit, while a quarter believe that driving over the speed limit is acceptable. These worrying findings illustrate that many motorists see speed limits as simply a suggestion rather than the law.

The YouGov survey spoke with more than 3,000 drivers with expected but oh so disappointing results. The statistics showed that there was a definite gender difference in attitudes towards speeding. 82% of men admitted to driving over the speed limit compared to 73% of women. More than twice as many men (36%) as women (17%) agreed that it is acceptable to drive over the speed limit.

Although younger motorists are not the most likely to admit they drive over the speed limit compared to older motorists, they are the most likely to agree it is acceptable to do so. 36% of 18-24 year olds and 35% of 25-29 year olds agree that it's acceptable to drive over the speed limit compared to18% of 60-69 year olds and 18% of drivers aged 70 and over. Then again with the resultant loss in reaction time, it is probably best 60 and over drivers are not speeding anyway, right?

In the UK, young motorists could do with some re-education given such a large percentage believe that speeding is acceptable.

Similarly although I have no data on the subject, I suspect US drivers percentages are even worse.

The need for speed was replicated when the survey asked motorists what the speed limit should be on UK highways. Over half of respondents (55%) said it should be 80 mph, and one in seven (14%) think it should be higher than 80 mph, meaning over two thirds think the limit should be 80 mph or more.

The UK Transport Secretary's announcement last year about the planned consultation on increasing the speed limit on Britain's motorways from 70 mph to 80 mph certainly looks like it would be met with approval.

With average fuel costs around London at well over $8.25 USD per gallon as of today, I have to wonder who is paying for the fuel? And not just youngsters either?

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

My dad drives at 80 and at 90 in light traffic if he's keen to get somewhere. He's not unusual.

[ALS]

Hi Wayne,

After dealing with the public in business for so long nothing surprises me anymore.

I was playing with the Gas Buddy Trip calculator app I have on one of my tool bars yesterday and got the surprise of my life.

I was looking at the round trip (2344 miles) fuel cost to Florida with different fuel economy scenarios.

My Volvo 960 EPA rated at 24 mpg running at 75 mph
the round trip cost is $353.76.

Drop it to 70 mph the cost drops to $333.86

If I slow it down to say 65 mph mph the cost drops to $309.65

Slow it farther down to say 100kph or 62 mph the cost drops to $293.61

If I ran at 55 mph the cost would be $273.83

No, running above the speed limit doesn't cost you that much.

Running 55 mph vs 75 mph is around $80 in savings.
Also avoids the need for an additional 21 gallons of fuel or in my case a full tank of gas.

It doesn't look like that much of a savings when you're looking at a day or even a week. On the other hand when you add it up monthly, quarterly or through out the year the savings from slowing down to the speed limit or a little less can really make a big difference in your wallet over a year.

Al

[vtiman]

Obviously here in the uk there is a much greater savings to be had from driving more slowly. but the high cost doesnt deter the speed just the number of journeys ! for example autocar tested the merc ml amg with a huge over 500 hp v8. hard to believe anyone would buy that here although you can get it with the 4 cyl diesel in the ml250. the amg would literally be like running a city bus or big semi in the states ! over £100 per fill up !

You also have to consider speed cameras and protecting your licence so I do try and stay at the 70 mph limit. i have tried driving at 60 but you get caught up with all the trucks and have to keep slowing all the time. also when you are on a longer trip 60 or even 70 seems very slow even in the uk ! i always watch my speed in built up areas though.

the unofficial motorway limit has been 80 mph or so for some years. when we had more police on the roads you would have to be driving badly or in bad conditions to be stopped as long as you were under 85 mph or so. over 100 mph is an instant ban and over 180mph is a long jail term if you are also a serial bank robber in a modified stolen audi rs5 !

the reality is that if the speed limit were upped to 80mph but enforced more then the 70mph limit is now, you would actually reduce the average speed. one idea might be roadside signs reminding people how much fuel is used at say 60 70 and 80 and the cost. even the governments own statistics show that being over the speed limit is not in itself a major cause of accidents - distraction is the number one killer literally.

another idea would be to reduce the amount companies pay to company car drivers for their fuel. most company company cars are diesels here because you have to pay a percentage of the cars new value every year based on its co2 ratings and the amounts can get serious !

Years ago the income tax reate here was unbelievable for higher earners so companies stared giving employees cars instead of a higher wage as you would end up with less money after tax. however the revenue sussed this out and company car tax was born !

However the co2 reduction goes out of the window somewhat when the cars are driven at 95 mph. if someone goes flying past you they will likely be in a german estate with a 2 litre diesel engine as these are popular company cars ! suvs and crossovers are also popular.
private buyers have fiestas corsas astras and foci !

[wick1ert]

While speed itself may not be a big cause of accidents, it's a very big factor as to the extent of injuries as a result of the accident. I used to be the one that would blow past people in the car, but a few speeding tickets, loss of a parent in a car accident, and I tend to stick within 5-7 of the limit now. It typically depends upon the trip, flow of traffic, etc. But I'm not the one that goes 80+ flying down the road anymore. Yes, I did spend 45 mins once cruising at around 90-100 coming down the Blue Route (PA TP/NE EXT/I-476) at 3am.

[echoman]

Most people around here drive pretty quicky, but it seems like people are just impatient about getting somewhere, burning as much fuel as possible to do it.

[EdwinTheMagnificent]

I've done plenty of high speed (85-100 MPH) driving in the past , but I certainly don't feel the need to do so today. The short time I spent driving in England showed me that the posted 70MPH limit on the motorways was just a "suggested" starting point for most drivers. I was driving a Ford Ka , which my future son-in-law assures me is a joke in the UK , and I was driving at about 65MPH in the far left lane. I saw MANY MANY cars passing at 90-100 MPH , mostly Passats, A6's , 5-series, etc.
I know it's a popular tax ploy for companies to provide cars , but for them to pay for ANY fuel is a bad idea, IMHO. I see it all the time here (USA) ; when drivers don't pay for their own fuel(or brakes,or tires,etc) they don't CARE and their driving is very wasteful.

[frv]

I've just done 50 - 60 miles today on M69 and M1 in the UK. My max speed was 62 on a downhill stretch (in N). I find it more relaxing to stick in the left (slow) lane amongst the lorries (trucks). Yeah, so it takes a bit longer but my FE is way better and I am less tired. Loads of people go flying past but it's not a problem if you stay in the lorry lane. I don't feel like I need to go faster. The mpg result was worth the extra time!