Nearly two thirds support penalty point reduction for speeding at 30mph or below

Nearly two thirds of UK adults (63%) would support a penalty point reduction from three to one for speeding at 30mph or below, according to a new poll.

A new poll by YouGov/CAR26 asked 1,797 UK adults and of all who expressed an opinion on the matter of a point reduction, the strongest support was among Conservative voters at 68%.

While supporters of the three main parties supported this change, the weakest support was among Liberal Democrat voters at 55%.

Support among men and women who expressed opinions were very similar. 63% of men and 64% of women who expressed opinions supported the change of points.

Support among the socio-economic groups was also similar at around 64% (63% ABC1 and 65% C2DE).

There’s majority support across all age groups - 68% amongst 18-24 year olds, 63% 25-49, 64% 50-64 and 62% 65+.

Regionally the greatest support was in ‘Midlands/Wales’ with 69% who expressed an opinion supporting the change.

Lois Perry, CAR26 director,said: “20 mph limits are being imposed across the nation, speed cameras installed, licences revoked and Speed Awareness Courses are running at an all-time high.

“Fixed penalties are being enforced against motorists, taxis and commercial drivers for travelling at well below 30mph, a speed considered reasonable for decades.

“This movement seems unstoppable, pushed by the traffic gurus at the UN and the WHO - and presumably loved as a huge new revenue raiser - but surely the Government can recognise and ease the pain of adjustment by long-suffering drivers? Our survey proves this is supported by the public.”

The poll follows on from a move in Wales to lower the default national speed limit on residential roads and busy pedestrian streets from 30mph to 20mph.

Wales becomes the first UK nation to make the lower speed the default choice following trials in eight communities across Wales and will be rolled out nationally in September 2023.

Red Driver Risk Management has also backed calls for the rest of the UK to follow the Welsh government's approach.

Seb Goldin, chief executive at Red Driver Risk Management, said the Welsh Government’s decision was ‘sensible, proportionate, and nuanced’, ensuring areas of most risk see limits dropped by default to 20mph while some built-up areas can remain at 30mph, if proven to be safer.

He has called on the rest of the UK to adopt a similar approach – especially as the increase in near-silent electric vehicles (EVs) could cause danger to pedestrians and cyclists unaware of their presence in urban environments, he said.