Drivers across England are being hit with fines for speeding at under 30mph, a direct result of the increasing prevalence of 20mph zones in towns and cities. New data from the RAC reveals that 32,548 motorists were caught driving at 30mph or more on 20mph roads last year, meaning they were traveling at least 50% faster than the legal limit. This figure comes from 28 police forces that provided comparable data, highlighting a widespread disregard for lower speed limits.
Rise of 20mph Zones Leads to More Penalties
The expansion of 20mph zones has led to more drivers being penalized at lower speeds. Across 33 forces, 271,341 motorists were caught driving at 40mph or more on 30mph roads. Wales has already adopted a default 20mph limit in built-up areas, and the Scottish Government has committed to implementing similar limits where appropriate. In Birmingham, 20mph zones have been rolled out in several parts of the city.
RAC Highlights Dangers of Excessive Speeding
RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said: "The fact that some were recorded in residential areas, even near schools, in daytime hours when others might well have been using the roads underlines just how dangerous this kind of behaviour is. Such roads will almost certainly be well-used by pedestrians and cyclists, so it doesn’t bear thinking about what travelling at such high speeds could have led to." He added that new casualty reduction targets and updates on local speed settings are welcome, but greater focus on tackling excessive speeding and repeat offending is desperately needed.
Government Response and Speed Limit Enforcement
A Department for Transport (DfT) spokesperson said: "There’s no excuse for those who choose to speed and put lives at risk. While we have no plans to mandate speed control technology, our road safety strategy includes proposals to fit all new cars with systems that warn drivers when they exceed the speed limit." The data underscores the challenge of enforcing lower speed limits, with some motorists unaware of the change or ignoring it altogether.
