Drivers support speeding crackdown outside schools
Speeding near schools is simply unacceptable, according to the majority of drivers.
More than 82% back the use of speed cameras to fine people driving over the limit near schools, according to a new study.
However, attitudes towards speeding on motorways seem surprisingly relaxed…
Speed cameras near schools
A survey of 2,000 drivers by road safety charity IAM RoadSmart reveals we have strong feelings about speeding near school.
The findings show more than four in five drivers support the use of speed cameras to automatically single out drivers travelling more than 10mph over the limit outside schools.
A total of 83% say it’s unacceptable to drive even 5mph over the limit near any school building, while 79% reckon cameras should automatically fine drivers travelling over the limit in any residential area where children are likely to cross the road.
Neil Greig, Policy and Research Director at IAM RoadSmart, said: “It is reassuring to see that the majority of motorists we surveyed are in favour of using speed cameras to improve road safety outside schools.”
Speeding on motorways
While drivers are conscientious about speeding near schools, attitudes towards speed cameras on motorways brought up different opinions.
Just 63% of those questioned support the use of cameras to detect cars going more than 10mph above the legal limit on motorways. Meanwhile, one in four think it’s ‘acceptable’ to drive over 80mph.
The survey also uncovered a noticeable increase in the acceptance of speeding among those who travel longer distances, with 56% of those who cover more than 10,000 miles a year deeming it acceptable to travel over the limit on a motorway.
Commenting on these findings, Neil Grieg said we still have ‘a long way to go’ in tackling public attitudes toward speeding.
He said: “Speeding in towns may be universally disliked, but it is clear that we still have a long way to go before the same message gets through on motorways.
“Speeding causes more than 4,000 casualties each year on UK roads – that’s an average of 11 people a day killed or seriously injured. So it is extremely disappointing to see such apparent acceptance of speeding on motorways, and we need to do more to create a fundamental shift in attitude and behaviour here.”
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