Vehicle speed compliance statistics for Great Britain: July to September 2020
Car driver compliance with speed limits on roads in Great Britain during July to September 2020.
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These quarterly statistics have been produced in addition to the regular annual statistics, to provide more timely information on compliance with speed limits during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
They provide insight into the speeds at which drivers choose to travel and their compliance with speed limits under free flow conditions but should not be taken as estimates of actual compliance or actual average speed across the wider road network.
Long-term trends in vehicle speed limit compliance have usually been stable over time. Without coronavirus, we would have expected this to continue.
In July to September 2020, the proportion of cars exceeding the speed limit was similar to the equivalent period of 2019, unlike the previous quarter when comparative levels of speeding had been higher during the first national lockdown.
Also during July to September 2020:
- coronavirus restrictions changed from national to more localized forms, resulting in road traffic remaining constant at near normal levels.
- 49% of cars exceeded the limit on motorways
- 9% of cars exceeded the limit on national speed limit single carriageways
- 55% of cars exceeded the limit on 30mph roads
As restrictions eased later in the period April to June 2020, road traffic began to return to normal. In July to September 2020, road traffic levels were broadly constant as traffic remained at near normal levels.
Contact us
Road traffic and vehicle speed compliance statistics
Email roadtraff.stats@dft.gov.uk
Media enquiries 0300 7777 878