More than half (52%) of car drivers break 30mph speed limits, latest Government figures have shown.

The Department for Transport’s Automatic Traffic Counters found that in 2018, 46% of cars speed on motorways and 10% on single carriageway national speed limit roads.

Van drivers were more compliant in 30mph zones with 47% exceeding them but more – 53% - break motorway speed limits.

Edmund King, AA president said: “More than half of drivers exceeding 30mph speed limits on local roads is extremely concerning.

“Speed kills, so drivers should remember that lower limits on residential roads and are there for a very important reason.

“The next Prime Minister can become a champion of road safety, by reversing the cut to cops in cars who not only act as a deterrent, but also catch and penalise those with a heavy right foot.”

His sentiment was echoed by Des Morrison, director of police and public sector contracts at DriveTech, which is part of the AA.

He said: “The speed awareness courses already in place across most of the country help educate and positively change.

“We need to work in partnership to reduce the number of killed and seriously injured on UK roads, with speed being one of the key contributing factors to many crashes.”

The Government report’s Vehicle Headway data shows a lower proportion of cars (74%), vans (74%) and motorcycles (66%) were observed leaving the minimum recommended two-second gap between themselves and the vehicle in front than articulated heavy goods vehicles (88%), rigid HGVs (80%) or buses.

The research also covered HGV speeds. Their speed limit on motorways is 60mph and they are limited to 56mph, although this can be exceeded when a lorry is travelling downhill.

As a result, just 1% of HGVs broke the speed limit.

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