this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2023
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85% Of Car Drivers Break 20mph Speed Limits, Reveals U.K.’s Department For Transport (www.forbes.com)
submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by Emperor@feddit.uk to c/unitedkingdom@feddit.uk
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Statistics published today by the U.K. Department for Transport (DfT) show that in 2022 85% of the car drivers in Great Britain broke the law by driving faster than the speed limit in 20mph zones. On roads with a 30mph maximum, 50% of car drivers broke the law, reveals the annual DfT report on speed limit compliance.

The measurements are based on speed data from a sample of Automatic Traffic Counters (ATCs) around the country. These exclude locations where external factors might restrict driver behavior, such as at junctions, on hills, beside sharp bends or where speed cameras are visible, says the DfT report.

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[–] clara@feddit.uk 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

it's simple. asking people to do the right thing (i.e slowdown), out of the kindness of their hearts, is laughable.

if you build the street in such a way that driving above it's design limits is impossible, then people wont do it. surprisingly, the threat of their car being damaged or totaled will force compliance with the intended speed limit. if this was done correctly on a large scale, speed limit posts wouldn't even be required - the street layout would naturally dictate the speeds you can drive at.

for UK streets, this can be retrofitted with chicanes, curb extensions, raised pedestrian crossings, etc. increasing the amount that a driver has to think to drive down a street, automatically makes them slower. oh, and none of those stupid painted chicanes and bumps either, you think anyone cares about those? lol. actually build the damned curb extensions

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[–] Tweak@feddit.uk 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

85% of the UK are criminals, I thought Australia was supposed to solve that for us.

[–] RobotToaster@infosec.pub 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

My understanding is most 20mph zones are simply advisory, as they don't have traffic orders.

[–] Emperor@feddit.uk 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

There are quite a few caveats in there, like it was usually through roads with no traffic calming measures and they're often the ones I see people get narked about complying with. I do think some of these should be reconsidered as 30mph.

[–] Syldon@feddit.uk 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

20mph zones are usually created because of an issue. Either idiots speeding repetitively or some poor sod being hit by a speeding car.

[–] wewbull@feddit.uk 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

If people are already speeding, lowering the limit will do little.

[–] Syldon@feddit.uk 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (5 children)

You are missing the point that speed limits are imposed because of the history of that road or type of road. Councils have a duty of care and must be seen to apply it.

London council was fined because a young child died with asthma. The parent sued because she was not made aware of the problem. She claimed there was not enough information regarding air quality. This is why you see ULEZ in the London area. If some poor kid is hurt by a car and they cannot prove the driver was speeding, then you have to assume the speed limit is too high. This is the culture we have adopted to protect ourselves from libel suites. The speed limit is not applied to piss you off, it is for the protection of others who use the road.

If this is unacceptable to you then write to your council and tell them that you will accept any liability claims for that road if they up the speed limit. You may also need to convince the people who live there, and send their kids out across that road.

[–] wewbull@feddit.uk 1 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I'm not missing the point at all. I'm saying that those that already break the rule won't obey the new rule.

Beside a single car has a driver who is liable. A thousand cars has shared liability in the form of local government. Damage through speeding is a singular liabilty. Damage through air quality is group liability.

You can't compare the two.

[–] midgephoto@photog.social 1 points 1 year ago

@wewbull @Syldon You compared the two.

[–] midgephoto@photog.social 1 points 1 year ago

@wewbull
That's categorical thought, which is an error with a continuous variable such as speed.

That they break, or do not break, the law ("rule" doesn't quite describe it).

You may also care to consider that if one driver does not exceed the limit, it moderates the speed of others behind - you've presented this as an individual decision, uninfluenced by others, but even taken as a guideline others have influence.

[–] Syldon@feddit.uk 1 points 1 year ago

I am comparing the liability issue and how responsible people react. There is a huge problem with liability claims and costs. People in charge of money need to show they have done due diligence. You are right that some will never obey the rules, but that comes under an SEP (somebody else's problem). It will no longer be the problem of a council.

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[–] midgephoto@photog.social 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

@wewbull @Syldon
If by speeding you mean 35 in a 30 zone, then will the drivers who know their journey is urgent and important, as are try, and that they are more skillful than those around them, drive 15mph above the limit, or 5mph?

They'll stand out rather more if the former, and have a likelihood of killing a hit pedestrian or cyclist reduced by the change if the latter.

I suspect the chap recently apprehended for 61 in a 30 zone past children might not change, yes.

[–] wewbull@feddit.uk 1 points 1 year ago

I don't think most people are actively engaged when they speed and are rationally thinking about such things. They just travel at a speed which feels "right" for the conditions. Just changing the sign changes nothing for such people as it's still the same road which has the same feel.