Vehicle speed compliance statistics for Great Britain: 2020

Organisation: Department for Transport (DfT)
Date of Publication: July 2021
Date Uploaded: 14 July 2021

The percentage of cars exceeding the speed limit rose on all road types during 2020 – as a result of lower traffic levels caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

That’s according to these government statistics which measure speed and compliance at sites where the road conditions are free flowing – for example roads with no junctions, hills, sharp bends, speed enforcement cameras or other traffic calming measures.

The stats show that in 2020, 53% of cars exceeded the speed limit on motorways, an increase from 50% in 2019.

They highlight a similar rise on National Speed Limit (NSL) single carriageways (up from 9% in 2019 to 12% in 2020) and on 30mph roads (up from 54% in 2019 to 56% in 2020).

The DfT says trends in speed limit compliance in 2020 coincided with the exceptional changes in road traffic caused by Covid-19 lockdowns.

For example between April and June 2020 – when the first national lockdown predominantly took place – 17% of cars exceeded the limit on NSL roads and 63% on 30mph roads.

The DfT adds that without the Covid-19 impact on traffic levels, it would expect speed limit compliance to have remained in line with previous years.

20mph limits
The figures also show that 87% of cars exceeded the speed limit on roads with a 20mph limit in 2020 – with 20% breaking the limit by more than 10mph.

While these figures may seem alarming, the DfT stresses that free flowing conditions are not typical of most 20mph roads and as a result, must be interpreted with additional caution.

DfT guidance suggests that 20mph limits are most effective when they have traffic calming measures.

Access the statistical bulletin via the gov.uk website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/vehicle-speed-compliance-statistics-for-great-britain-2020/vehicle-speed-compliance-statistics-for-great-britain-2020