More than 1 in 10 motorists have a speeding conviction
Posted by Susannah Mayers
More than one in ten motorists in the UK have been convicted of a speeding offence, recent research has revealed.
The study, conducted by car insurance provider Admiral, also found that a motorist's likelihood of being convicted of speeding varies depending on where in the nation they live.
It shows that motorists living in parts of Hertfordshire, Dorset and Surrey are the most likely to receive points for speeding.
Sue Longthorn, Admiral's managing director, said, "Our statistics show a worrying trend that people see a speed limit as simply a guide rather than a speed that's appropriate for that road."
She went on to suggest that she was surprised that the national average for speeding convictions is not higher given this fact.
Last month, RoadPilot revealed that 16 per cent of the UK's roadside speed cameras are located in Greater London, which is more than Scotland, Ireland and Wales combined.
Sue said: “Our statistics show a worrying trend that people see a speed limit as simply a guide rather than a speed that’s appropriate for that road.”
There are too many roads where the speed limit is obviously far too low for the road and conditions, so drivers ignore them. They are then convicted for driving above an arbitrary speed that bears no relation to a safe speed for that road.
The differences across the country may be to do with local government policies on setting speed limits, rather than significant differences in driver behaviour.