Christmas Day is "worst" for speeding drivers

Drivers are more likely to break the speed limit on Christmas Day when compared to any other day, according to new research.

Go.Compare Car Insurance found that 91% of cars exceeded 20mph speed limits on Christmas Day, in 2021, as well as 63% of vehicles on 30mph roads

The research looked at historical figures from the Department for Transport to see which roads were worst for speeding. It found that Christmas Day sees some of the highest percentage of speeding vehicles of the year on 30mph and 20mph roads. 

Christmas was the worst day of the year for speeding on 30mph roads, and the joint second worst for speeding on 20mph roads. The worst day for speeding on 20mph roads was January 1, when 92% of cars were exceeding the limit, further highlighting that speeding is particularly widespread over the festive period.

In response, the comparison site is urging drivers to slow down and be especially careful when travelling during the Christmas period this year.

Tom Banks, car insurance expert at Go.Compare, said: “Some roads can be quieter on Christmas Day, which might make it tempting to put your foot down. However, it’s critical that you resist the urge and stick to the speed limits.

“Christmas is a special time of the year for all of us and nobody wants to spend it dealing with an accident. For this reason, you should be especially careful when on the road around Christmas. Keep an eye on your speed and be particularly alert to any hazards in order to stay safe and minimise the chances of a collision.”

The news follows Go.Compare’s discovery that roads with lower limits tend to experience a higher percentage of speeding vehicles. It found that the average percentage of cars exceeding the speed limit on 30mph roads in 2021 was 51%, compared to a staggering 86% on 20mph roads. It also comes after the controversial switch to 20mph as the default speed limit in Wales.

Commenting on this difference, Banks said: “It’s interesting that roads with lower limits tend to experience a higher percentage of speeding vehicles. However, while speeding is more common, other studies have shown that lowering the limits has helped to reduce the average speeds of drivers overall. So, although their introduction has been controversial, they could bring noteworthy improvements in road safety.”