Do You Know The Speed Limit?

Research by the Co-operative Insurance has shown that an alarming number of motorists aren’t aware of the speed limits on fast roads.

Many drivers blame this on the lack of signage, as the national speed limit sign does not indicate the difference in speed between a single carriageway and a dual carriageway or motorway. Other research suggests that 31 per cent of drivers do not recognise the national speed limit sign at all.

The speed limit on a single carriageway is currently 60mph, however, more than a third of drivers are not able to identify the speed on this type of road, with guesses varying from 50mph to 70mph.

Dual carriageways are also a cause for confusion, with drivers believing that the speed limit is anything from 60mph to over 80mph.

Generally, trends suggest that it is older drivers who are more uncertain about the speed of roads. Geographically, driver awareness in London is worse than any other part of the UK, where drivers are 50 per cent more likely to be unsure about speed limits than those who live in the North East.

Bedfordshire police force has recently spoken out about bringing in fines for motorists who are travelling as little as one mile over the speed limit. If this is the case, drivers may be keen to brush up their speed limit knowledge.

Tips for staying within the speed limit:

Check for speed limit signs – especially when you are approaching a junction

If you’re in a 30 zone, stick to third gear to reduce your chance of speeding

Make sure that you’re concentrating on your driving – if you’re not thinking about your speed, you can easily go over the limit

Look out for lampposts – a single carriageway street with streetlights is usually a 30 zone.

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