The percentage of car drivers exceeding the speed limit on motorways and 30mph roads fell during 2024 – continuing the broadly downward trend seen since 2018.
That’s according to 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.
In 2024, the data shows that 44% of car drivers exceeded the speed limits on motorways, compared to 50% in 2018.
It is a similar picture for 30mph roads, where 43% of car drivers exceeded the speed limit in 2024, compared to 51% in 2018.
Meanwhile on National Speed Limit Single Carriageways, 9% of car drivers were found to be exceeding the speed limit in 2024, compared to 11% in 2018.
Image: DfT
Looking at more extreme instances of speeding, 7% of car drivers on motorways were found to be exceeding the speed limit by more than 10mph. On 30mph roads, the equivalent figure was 4%.
Meanwhile on 20mph roads, 76% of cars exceeded the speed limit, and 10% exceeded the speed 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. DfT guidance suggests that 20mph limits are most effective when they have traffic calming measures.
The dataset also looks at other vehicle types.
When it comes to light commercial vehicles (LCVs), 45% were found to be exceeding the speed limit on 30mph roads, at 47% on motorways.
With motorcyclists, 48% exceeded the speed limit on 30 mph roads, 24% did so on NSL single carriageways and 53% did so on motorways.
Data previously published shows:
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