Nearly half of drivers (48%) would like to see speed limits reduced on the most dangerous stretches of 60mph rural roads to help slash the dangers.

New RAC data shows a record high in drivers admitting to exceeding the 60mph speed limit on country roads

That’s according to the new RAC Report on Motoring, which shows a record high in drivers admitting to exceeding the 60mph speed limit on country roads, despite rural routes being the most dangerous.

In total, 48% of the 3,102 drivers questioned for the RAC Report on Motoring say they have driven faster than the limit in the past year on these roads, either on most journeys (8%) or up to half of trips (40%). The total is up from 44% in 2021 and matches the highest figure ever seen by the RAC in 2016.

That’s despite the increased dangers on rural roads. In 2021, 514 people were killed in a total of 11,827 collisions on 60mph non-built-up roads – a fatality rate of 4%, which is higher than on motorways.

The RAC study also revealed a rise in drivers breaking the limit on motorways and high-speed dual carriageways. Nearly 60% of drivers say they have broken the 70mph limit, either on most journeys (16%), or on up to half of their trips (43%) in the last 12 months.

That’s up from 55% in 2021 and is the highest percentage since 2017, when 66% fessed up to this. But it’s still down on the record of 70% reported in both 2015 and 2016.

In contrast, the percentage who speed on urban roads has changed very little in the past 12 months, down to 40% of drivers in 2022 from 41% the year before. A total 46% broke the limit on 20mph roads, unchanged from the year before.

The RAC warned that the figures on speeding on 60mph rural roads were “extremely worrying” and called for the Government to take action on fatalities. More people lose their lives every year in collisions on these roads than on any other and it’s called for roads authorities to reduce limits on the most dangerous stretches to more appropriate levels. Its call is backed up by the 48% of drivers who would agree with such a move – just 24% would oppose it.

Road safety spokesman Simon Williams commented: “Drivers sometimes forget or underestimate the role speed plays in fatal and serious collisions as they tend not to see it in the same light as offences like drink or drug-driving or talking on a handheld phone. In fact, in 2021 as many as 253 people lost their lives in collisions where someone was exceeding the speed limit.”

He also expressed concerns that the proportion of drivers speeding on motorways and dual carriageways could be on the way back to the record highs of 2015 and 2016 and called for action.

“Although motorways are statistically the UK’s safest roads, the abundance of digital signage on them could easily be used to make to try to make them even safer by reminding drivers of the dangers of breaking the speed limit.”

Research carried out by the RAC in 2021 also found strong support among drivers for motorway speed limits to be lowered in wet weather. Nearly three-quarters (72%) would like to see the standard 70mph speed limit on motorways reduced in wet conditions, as already done in France.

With digital signs now commonplace due to the advent of smart motorways, the RAC has said the Government has the means to remind drivers of prevailing speed limits or even lower them in inclement weather.