Tag: road safety

Motorists warned of aquaplaning dangers during heavy rainfall

Motorists are being warned about the dangers of aquaplaning, as experts share tips on how to stay safe on the roads during stormy weather.

Rainfall in the UK is on the rise, with winter 2023-24 the wettest on record,* making it vital that drivers know how to react in these challenging situations.  

Car insurance experts at Quotezone.co.uk urge drivers to check their tyre tread depth and significantly reduce their speed when it’s raining to help keep control during unexpected aquaplaning.

Also known as hydroplaning, aquaplaning happens when a layer of water builds up between a vehicle’s tyres and the road surface, causing the tyres to lose grip.

This can lead to a complete loss of steering and braking control, leaving drivers unable to manoeuvre safely until the tyres regain contact with the road.

Even a small amount of water can cause aquaplaning if tyres are worn or under-inflated. The legal minimum tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm, so it’s important for motorists to regularly check their tyres to ensure they meet or exceed this limit.

Drivers are advised to slow down when conditions are wet, as aquaplaning is far more likely to occur at speeds above 35 mph.**

It’s also important to avoid harsh acceleration, braking or sudden steering movements in rainy weather.

When the car is aquaplaning, drivers might notice the engine suddenly becoming louder, feel as though they’ve dropped the clutch down a gear, causing the revs to increase, experience lighter or unresponsive steering, or feel the back end of the car drifting from side to side, also known as ‘fishtailing’.***

In that situation, it’s crucial not to slam the brakes or turn the wheel sharply. Instead, drivers need to gently ease off the accelerator and keep the steering straight until the tyres regain contact with the road.

Greg Wilson, CEO and car insurance expert at Quotezone.co.uk said: “As the weather across the UK gets wetter and stormier, motorists need to be on alert for dangerous driving conditions.

“Many drivers underestimate how easily aquaplaning can happen. Even a thin layer of water can be enough if tyres are worn or speeds are too high.

“It can be a frightening experience when you suddenly lose control of the car, and can result in serious accidents, so knowing how to prevent and manage aquaplaning is crucial at this time of year.

“Regularly checking tyres, slowing down, keeping an eye out for puddles and avoiding harsh manouvers in wet conditions, can all help improve safety while driving in the rain.

“Being aware of the first signs of aquaplaning is also important so that drivers can react calmly and safely. If the steering suddenly feels light or the car starts to drift, don’t panic.

“Staying composed, easing off the accelerator, keeping the wheel straight and letting the tyres regain their grip naturally is the best that you can do in this situation. Being prepared and aware of what’s happening is half the battle.”

Quotezone.co.uk’s top tips on avoiding aquaplaning:

1. Reduce speed  

Your tyres will have less chance of gripping the road if you’re travelling at a higher speed. There’s no magic “safe speed,” but experts say that cars travelling under 35 mph in an inch or two of water are much more likely to stay in control.

2. Check your tyre tread depth

The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm, but don’t wait until you’re right on the limit. More tread means better grip, especially on wet roads. If your tyres are starting to look a little smooth, it’s time to get them checked or replaced,**** driving with unroadworthy tyres can lead to fines, penalty points and could even invalidate your car insurance. 

3. Keep tyres properly inflated

Under-inflated tyres can’t clear water as effectively, increasing the risk of aquaplaning. Check tyre pressures regularly, especially before long journeys. If you’re not sure what your tyre pressure should be, check your car manual or reference sticker on the inside of the doorframe.

4. Keep an eye out for puddles

Those big puddles might look harmless, but hitting one too fast can make your car lose contact with the road in an instant. Try to avoid waterlogged roads or drive around puddles safely – if you have to go through, reduce speed and proceed with caution. Turning your headlights on is recommended on rainy days to increase visibility, so other drivers can see you better and you have a better chance of spotting excess surface water. 

5. Follow the track

If there’s a car ahead, their tyres will already have cleared some of the water from the road, leaving tracks behind. Driving in those tracks, while keeping a safe distance, could help your tyres maintain better grip.

6. Drive smoothly

Gentle steering, braking and accelerating are key when it’s wet. Take extra care on bends and avoid using cruise control, as it can stop you from reacting quickly if you start to aquaplane.

As a leading price comparison site, Quotezone helps millions of drivers every year compare and find savings on all sorts of car insurance, such as young, older and convicted driver insurance.

Drugs and driving don’t mix

  • Driving on drugs is never worth the risk
  • It’s illegal in Scotland, and immediate roadside testing can be carried out at any time.

Drugs can slow down your responses, making it more likely you’ll have a collision on the road. This can lead to severe injuries and even death.

The effects of drug driving can seriously ruin lives. Not just yours, but other road users and their families too.

If you’re caught and convicted of drug driving, here’s what you can expect to face as a minimum:

  • 12-month driving ban
  • 3 to 11 points on your licence
  • Up to six months in prison
  • Up to £5,000 fine
  • An offence that stays on your licence for 11 years
  • Causing death carries a maximum 14-year jail sentence
  • You could lose your car and even your job.

THE LAW IN SCOTLAND

  • It’s illegal to take drugs and drive in Scotland – and the punishments are severe
  • The law also includes prescription and over-the-counter drugs that you’re not meant to use whilst driving
  • The penalties for driving while on these drugs are exactly the same as having illegal substances in your system.

THE EFFECTS CAN LAST A LIFETIME

A drug driving conviction can change your life for years to come.

You could:

  • Lose your job, or business, if you can’t drive
  • Struggle to get another job because of your criminal conviction
  • Face a significant increase in your vehicle insurance
  • Have difficulty travelling abroad – especially to the USA

HOW YOU CAN BE CAUGHT

It’s easier than you think to get caught drug driving.

You could be:

  • Stopped by the police for a routine check
  • Stopped for another traffic offence – like not wearing a seatbelt or a faulty light
  • Involved in a crash, even one which is not your fault
  • Reported by someone who suspects you’ve been taking drugs

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET CAUGHT

  • If an officer reasonably suspects that you have taken or are under the influence of drugs whilst driving you may be arrested or required to carry out a roadside drug wipe test
  • You may also be required to carry out a preliminary impairment test
  • If the drug wipe is positive or the preliminary test indicates drugs in your system, it is likely you will be arrested and taken to a police station
  • At the station you will be required to provide a blood or urine sample which will be sent for testing. The result of this test will be used to make a decision about any prosecution

HOW DRUGS CAN AFFECT YOUR DRIVING

  • Depending on what’s been taken, drugs have different effects on driving ability
  • Many impair awareness, judgement and reaction times
  • Drugs can still be detected in your system quite a few days after they’ve been taken
  • Many prescription drugs can also make you drowsy and affect vision, coordination and concentration

For more information on the effects of specific drugs, read the content on release.org and changes to drug driving law on gov.uk.

PRESCRIPTION AND OVER THE COUNTER DRUGS

It’s illegal to drive using any medicines that affect your driving abilities. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Some medicines, like hay fever remedies, can cause drowsiness and impairment
  • The penalties for driving while impaired by prescribed drugs can be just as severe as illegal ones
  • It can be an offence to drive if you’re over the stated limits of certain drugs – whether they’re prescribed or over-the-counter
  • Always check the information leaflet, or ask the pharmacist for any driving restrictions

There are no issues if:

  • You’ve been prescribed the drug, and
  • It’s taken as prescribed, and
  • It doesn’t affect your driving.

New Road Safety campaign visits Edinburgh to help locals keep driving safely for longer

Driver MOT roadshow visits The Gyle Shopping Centre as part of Scotland-wide tour

The Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland have launched a national driver MOT roadshow, which is set to visit The Gyle Shopping Centre on 23-24 October as part of a Fitness to Drive campaign, encouraging local drivers aged 60 and over to reflect on their driving skills and take steps to stay safe and confident behind the wheel.

Transport Scotland data show a continuing trend towards increasing numbers of casualties aged 60 and over.1 With more than 850,000 drivers2 in this age group in Scotland, the campaign highlights the importance of recognising changes that can come with age and taking simple, practical steps to address them.

These include booking regular eye examinations, reducing night-time driving, avoiding busy junctions at peak hours, and refreshing driving skills with a mature driving review.

The driver MOT roadshow visiting Edinburgh will raise awareness of these measures. Local drivers can drop by for information and reassurance, as well as advice on how to adapt driving habits to continue driving safely for longer.

Friends and family are also encouraged to attend for tips on starting supportive conversations if they have concerns about a loved one’s driving.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop said: “As we get older, changes to eyesight, hearing, and reaction times can all affect our ability to drive safely.

“The Fitness to Drive campaign is about supporting older drivers to recognise those changes and take action to continue to stay safe on the road.

“Even one death on Scotland’s roads is one too many. By encouraging older drivers and their families to reflect on driving fitness, we can help save lives and ensure people feel confident and secure when they travel.”

Caroline MacQueen, Centre Manager at The Gyle Shopping Centre, said: “We’re delighted to be part of the national driver MOT roadshow and look forward to welcoming local drivers and their families to our Shopping Centre”

The campaign is backed by IAM RoadSmart, a leading UK road safety charity, helping to improve driving and riding skills through courses and coaching. IAM RoadSmart offers mature driver reviews to help maintain driving skills and confidence and has played a key role in supporting the delivery of the driver MOT roadshow.

IAM RoadSmart Road Safety Manager for Scotland Stewart Mackie said: “Having a mature driver review can be a great way to boost your confidence on the roads and ensure that you and your passengers are safe.

“We know just how important driving is, and how it represents the freedom to go anywhere, anytime. This is why many mature drivers choose our course, because it gives them the confidence and skills to carry on driving and maintain their independence.

“We’d encourage anyone who is interested to come along to their local driver MOT event, where a friendly team will be on hand to offer support, guidance and practical advice to help you drive safely for longer.”

The driver MOT roadshow will run until January 2026, with stops at shopping centres, garden centres, and community hubs across Scotland.

Dates and locations can be found at www.roadsafety.scot/mature-drivers-roadshow.  

For more information, visit: roadsafety.scot/maturedrivers.

Putting Safety First: Success at Young Driver Event

🚦 Young Driver Safety Event at The Corn Exchange 🎓

Over 3,000 pupils from 30 schools across the Capital are attended Young Driver 2025 this week.

The annual event is aimed at senior year secondary school pupils and explores the risks and responsibilities of becoming a new driver, through presentations and workshops delivered by the Council, Police and partner organisations.

The issues discussed include vehicle, pedestrian and passenger safety, laws on the road, travelling by and interacting with public transport, first aid and much more.

Young drivers are much more likely to be involved in collisions than older drivers. 17 to 25 year-olds make up 10% of licence holders, but over 20% of collisions.

Young Driver 2025 ran from September 29 = 2nd October.

Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “Young Driver 2025 is an incredibly important event to make sure the next generation of Edinburgh’s drivers have all the resources they need to form good habits as they get on the road.

I was delighted to attend, meeting with colleagues from the Council and partner organisations along with our young people. I was also struck by the strong breadth of useful and practical material being delivered across the four-day event.

“We remain committed to enhancing road safety across the Capital for all road users, with over £6m being invested in our Road Safety Delivery Plan this year alone.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has supported the event this year and made it such a great success.”

Inspector Kosmas Papakyriakou, Road Policing said: “Edinburgh Division is fully supportive of Young Driver 2025. It is excellent educational tool to assist young people to become careful, considerate, and safe drivers and road users.

“Keeping people safe on and around our roads is a priority for Police Scotland, our communities and our partners. By working together to make young people aware of the risks and impacts of dangerous road user behaviour, we can help reduce casualties in the future.”

Mairi Day, Partner at Digby Brown said: “In the last month in Scotland we have seen three teenagers die in a car crash, and in a separate incident a young man had been jailed for more than two years for driving while under the influence of alcohol.

“His actions resulted in one of his friends losing both his legs and two others being left with serious spinal injuries

“Every day at Digby Brown we see similar road traffic accidents but also how devastating they are.

“We help the people who are left with life changing injuries and supporting the families trying to come to terms with a sudden loss.

“But what makes these incidents more painful is many are avoidable.

“Driving is a life skill, and we need to talk to our young people about how to stay safe and give them the confidence to make good decisions while out on the road.

“This is why events like Edinburgh Young Drivers are so important.”

Since 2010 Digby Brown has been a main supporter of the Edinburgh Young Driver event bringing their expertise in personal injury law and supporting people affected by serious road traffic accidents.

This year sees the return of the mock court featuring a real case from the firm’s archives aiming to show young people the consequences of taking risks on the road.

Yousef (S6) from Currie Community High School said: “It was a fantastic experience with lots of fun activities and provided a valuable insight into the consequences of negligence on the road.

“With stations such as VR, simulators and mock court sessions, there was never a dull moment!”

Sam (S6) from Currie Community High School said: “The Young Driver’s event was a successful learning experience which I found incredibly insightful.

“We listened to a variety of useful talks and had the opportunity to visit stands from numerous professionals which helped me understand how to stay safe on the road.”

Organised by the Council, Young Driver 2025 was attended and supported by Edinburgh Corn Exchange, Brainkind, British Transport Police, Digby Brown, IAM, Lothian Buses, Police Scotland (Roads Policing, School Link Officers and Safety Camera Partnership), Scottish Ambulance Service, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service and Spinal Injuries Scotland.

Edinburgh Road Policing in partnership with The City of Edinburgh Council, SFRS City of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Lothian Buses, and many more partners delivered crucial safety lessons for future drivers.

Chief Inspector Kieran Dougal from the Preventions, Interventions and Partnership department said: “Police Scotland are pleased to be supporting the Young Driver Event again this year and to be working closely with our partners in a multi-agency approach to promote safe driving.

“This a great event aimed at providing road safety education.

“Road safety is a priority for Edinburgh Division and Police Scotland. This event helps young people with the awareness and skills needed to drive safely. Remember to drive safely and to the conditions – collisions have a wide impact.

As a priority, “Keeping people safe on and around our roads … we can help reduce casualties in the future.”

#YoungDrivers

#RoadSafety

#PoliceScotland

#Edinburgh

#SafeDriving

Appeal for information following incidents of anti-social behaviour involving dirt bikes in Edinburgh

Officers in Edinburgh are appealing for information following a number of a calls regarding the dangerous use of dirt bikes in Edinburgh.

Over the course of Sunday, 17 August, 2025, multiple reports were received of the bikes being ridden in a reckless and in an anti-social manner in the areas of Calders, Juniper Green, Lanark Road, Broomhouse and Sighthill.

Sergeant Gillian Watson said: “The reckless use of dirt bikes not only endangers those riding them, but also members of the public.

“We have already seized four bikes and our enquiries are ongoing. We are keen to trace all of those who were riding in this dangerous manner.

“I would appeal to anyone who may have private CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage, or who knows where these bikes are being stored, to contact us as soon as possible.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 2699 of Sunday, 17 August, 2025.

Motorists urged to check tyres as summer heat risks dangerous blowouts

Rising temperatures are putting motorists at risk of dangerous tyre blowouts, with summer heat causing overinflated tyres and reduced traction.

With the UK experiencing above-average temperatures so far this summer, motor insurance experts from Quotezone.co.uk are urging drivers to check their tyre pressure. 

One in five vehicle breakdowns on motorways and A roads result from tyre defects, with a recent campaign finding that 21% of drivers who have broken down on the motorway saying it could have been avoided if they’d conducted proper tyre checks before starting their journey.

While motorists are well aware of the importance of checking tyre conditions during winter, it’s just as crucial to check tyres throughout the summer months – particularly during a heatwave. 

For every 10 degrees Celsius rise in temperature, tyre pressure can go up by about 1–2 PSI (pounds per square inch) – meaning tyres already at the upper limit could become overinflated when hot.

Overinflated tyres lead to a number of serious safety concerns for motorists, including reduced grip and traction, less responsive handling, and a higher risk of tyre blowouts – which can be particularly dangerous at high speeds. 

Before setting off on long journeys this summer, motorists are warned to carry out a few simple checks to stay safe on the road and avoid costly breakdowns. 

Greg Wilson, car insurance expert and CEO at Quotezone.co.uk said: “Many drivers carry out safety checks on their tyres throughout winter but often overlook how extreme heat can be just as tough on them.

“With the summer in full swing and many motorists travelling longer distances across the country on holiday road trips, it’s important to carry out essential safety checks before setting off.

“A quick pressure check could save drivers not only from a costly breakdown, but from a potentially dangerous tyre defect at high speed. 

“It’s essential to know the correct pressure for the vehicle, check the spare tyre, and always be mindful not to overload the vehicle – particularly if heading off on holiday with a boot full of luggage. 

“It only takes a few minutes to check the tyre pressure, but it could make all the difference.”

TyreSafe-summer-motoringDownload

Tyre safety tips for motorists this summer:

1.Check tyre pressure regularly 

Tyre pressure should be checked when the tyres are cold, ideally in the morning or after the car has been parked for several hours. 

2.Know your correct pressure

Your vehicle’s manufacturer should have a recommended tyre pressure you should stick to – this can be found in the vehicle’s handbook or door sticker. 

3.Inspect for damage

High heat can soften the tyre’s rubber and worsen cracks or worn tread. The minimum legal tread depth is 1.6mm in the UK, although tyre and safety experts recommend 3mm.***

4.Adjust the pressure if necessary

If tyres have become overinflated, let them cool before adjusting the pressure. Never deflate a hot tyre based only on a hot reading. 

5.Don’t neglect the spare tyre

Something that is often overlooked, but make sure to check the pressure of any spare tyres too, should you need to use them in an emergency and note they sometimes have a different recommended pressure to the existing tyres.

6.Avoid overloading your vehicle

Not only is it illegal, but overloading a vehicle puts a lot of stress on a car’s tyres. The extra heat and pressure can also increase the risk of a tyre blowout.

Quotezone helps millions of drivers every year find savings on all sorts of car insurance products such as older driver, truck and young driver insurance.

IMAGES: TyreSafe

Police issue motorcycle road safety advice on tragic anniversary

On Sunday, 23rd of July 2023, Ross Dominick, a father of three, was out riding his motorbike with friends along a popular route at Glencoe.

What began as any other day for an experienced motorcyclist, turned tragic.

A car crossed his path. The impact was fatal. Ross died at the scene.

Ross was one of 269 motorcyclists killed on Scotland’s roads between 2015 and 2024.

Motorcyclists make up 18 per cent of fatalities despite being less than 1 per cent of traffic on Scotland’s roads.

On the anniversary of this terrible day for those involved, Ross’ father Iain has agreed that Ross’ story be should be reshared to highlight the risks faced by motorcyclists and to hopefully prevent another family going through what they have.

View Iain’s story here ➡️

Speed limit cuts to be introduced across Edinburgh next month

From Monday June 9, the city council will begin implementing a series of speed reduction measures, from 40mph to 30mph, in locations across the city.

The new speed limit signs will be installed through June and July, beginning with Biggar Road. Once the new 30mph speed limit signs are in place, the new speed limits will be enforceable.

Motorists are being urged to look out for the new signage and respect the speed limit.

Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “Road safety is a key priority for us and I’m glad that we’re moving ahead with this important process. Whilst this has taken longer than we initially anticipated, I’m confident that these measures will make many of our roads across the city safer.

“The evidence is clear – lower speed limits make roads safer for everyone. A pedestrian or cyclist has twice the chance of surviving a collision at 30mph compared to 40mph. Any action that we can take to make sure all road users are safer is a positive step.”

You can view a map of the roads with new 30mph speed limits on our website.

The full list of streets and road where the city council is installing new signage and reducing the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph is below:

  • Biggar Road
  • Calder Road
  • Frogston Brae
  • Glasgow Road (East section)
  • Glasgow Road (West section and Old Liston Road)
  • Gogar Station Road
  • Hawes Brae and Bankhead Road
  • Hillhouse Road
  • Lang Loan (section at the junction with Lasswade Road)
  • Lasswade Road
  • Milton Road, Milton Road East and Milton Link
  • Queensferry Road
  • Riccarton Mains Road
  • Sir Harry Lauder Road
  • Seafield Road
  • South Gyle Broadway
  • Straiton Road
  • West Approach Road
  • Wester Hailes Road

World Sleep Day: Daunting data denotes dread for drowsy drivers

  • For World Sleep Day on Friday March 14, 2025, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) highlights the serious risks of drowsy driving, with over 430 people killed or seriously injured, and 1,276 collisions, linked to tiredness in 2023
  • RoSPA is working with the Fatigue Group, a non-profit organisation led by award-winning NHS anaesthetists, to provide advice to workers and their employers on managing the risk of fatigue, the importance of regular rest and recognising when people are too tired to drive
  • RoSPA also wants government to take actions including standardised tests for fatigue (similar to breathalyser tests), and public awareness campaigns targeting high risk groups such as shift workers
  • Spokespeople from RoSPA and the Fatigue Group are available for interview
World Sleep Day 2025

“If you’re tired, don’t drive” – that’s the message from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) ahead of this year’s World Sleep Day on March 14. The charity is raising awareness about the significant risks associated with drowsy driving, after over 430 people were killed or seriously injured, and there were 1,276 collisions, linked to tiredness in 2023.

RoSPA is working with the Fatigue Group, a non-profit organisation led by award-winning NHS anaesthetists, to raise awareness of the dangers of driving after working long hours. The Fatigue Group was formed after tragic incidents in which colleagues were killed while driving home exhausted.

The Group is continuing the work of the #fightfatigue campaign originally designed for NHS staff, although much of the advice will help anyone who works long hours or night shifts keep themselves and others safe.

These include the HALT principles, which advise against driving if you are Hungry, Angry, Late or Tired, and recommendations to take regular rest breaks at work.

Although the issue is particularly serious in the health service – with a recent Medical Defence Union (MDU) survey revealing that 90% of doctors feel sleep deprived at work – fatigue presents a risk across the entire workforce. That’s most apparent in physically demanding industries such as haulage and construction, but can also affect people putting in long hours at an office before driving home.

RoSPA emphasises that anyone who begins to feel tired when they are driving stop as soon as is safe and possible, and ideally try and find somewhere safe to sleep until they feel rested. Although two strong coffees and a 15 minute nap might help in the short-term, this should never be done more than once per journey.

RoSPA is also calling upon employers to ensure their staff are well rested and safe, for example by ensuring workers take regular breaks, and incorporating effective staff fatigue risk management in working patterns.

In addition, RoSPA wants the government to introduce standardised tests for assessing fatigue at the scene of road traffic collisions, similar to breathalyser tests for alcohol, establish a national registry of drowsy driving incidents, and run public awareness campaigns targeting high-risk groups such as shift workers.

The Fatigue Group advocates that healthcare organisations should have the same regulatory requirements for fatigue risk management as exist for all other safety-critical industries.

Caitlin Taylor, Road Safety Manager at RoSPA, said: “Drowsy driving is responsible for many serious and fatal collisions each year. Fatigue impairs driving ability similar to drink or drug driving but gets much less attention. This must change.

“Fatigue slows reaction times, reduces awareness, and affects decision-making, putting everyone at risk. RoSPA calls on employers, policymakers, and the government to act now by improving workplace fatigue management, investing in public awareness campaigns, and collecting better data on fatigue-related crashes. No one should lose their life due to preventable driver fatigue.” 

JP Lomas of The Fatigue Group said: “‘We have our own personal experience of the perils of driving while tired, having had colleagues die driving home after night shifts.

“Although not every journey ends in tragedy, the pressure on healthcare staff leads to many feeling forced to take risks, with research showing that 57% of trainees and 45% of consultants had experienced an accident or near miss driving tired post-shift.

“Working long hours without adequate rest breaks not only puts the patients they care for in danger – with evidence demonstrating that surgery performed at night or after hours is associated with higher mortality rates – but also other people outside of hospitals.

“With such a large number of tired employees on the roads all day and night, this is an urgent problem in the healthcare sector. We call for hospitals to provide dedicated rest time and spaces for staff.   

The so-called ‘hero’ culture where people continue working despite being exhausted for fear of looking ‘weak’ or letting others down, needs to be replaced by a safety culture where staff mitigate the impacts of fatigue with power naps and rest breaks.

“Our message is simple – getting enough rest is a necessity not a weakness, and could save lives.”

Nearly half of police forces record speeds of over 90mph on 30mph roads

  • RAC warns actions of a few are putting other road users at serious risk
  • NPCC roads policing lead: “We all have a responsibility to keep each other safe”

Almost half of UK police forces (48%) have caught motorists driving over 90mph on 30mph roads – more than three times the speed limit, new data analysed by the RAC has revealed.*

A Freedom of Information request to the UK’s 45 police forces also found that, of the 40 with data, almost all (90%) had clocked people driving at 60mph – more than twice the limit – on these roads. 

With the highest recorded speed on any road being 167mph on a 70mph stretch of the M1 by Leicestershire Police, the new RAC study paints an alarming picture of the speeds some motorists have been caught driving at.

Looking at the largest difference between the speed recorded and the posted limit, the highest logged speed was 161mph on a 50mph eastbound stretch of the A303 in Somerset.

More than half of police forces (23, or 58%) recorded drivers travelling in excess of 140mph. While most of these contraventions were on 70mph motorway stretches, this wasn’t always the case. South Yorkshire Police clocked a driver at 146mph on a 50mph southbound stretch of the M1, while Police Scotland detected someone driving at 148mph on a 60mph section of the A68 in the Scottish Borders.

But perhaps most disturbing of all are the speeds some people are prepared to drive at on 20mph and 30mph roads – those that are far more likely to have high numbers of pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users using them.

South Yorkshire Police recorded a speed of 122mph on a 30mph road, while North Wales Police logged a vehicle being driven at 88mph on a 20mph road. Both speeds are more than four times faster than the speed limits.

In total, six-in-10 police forces (24) have caught motorists driving over twice the speed limit on 20mph roads, with seven recording speeds of more than 60mph.

Government data shows speed is the biggest factor reported in fatal road collisions – it is a factor in 58% of fatalities, and in 43% of road collisions of all severities. In 2023 speed contributed to 888 fatalities, and 39,882 collisions of all severities.**

RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “Although this data is a snapshot, it shines a light on the incredibly dangerous actions of a few, that are putting law-abiding road users at serious risk. Thankfully, the police were on hand to catch these drivers.

“There is no place for the vastly excessive speeds that some people are prepared to drive. While some speeds were recorded in the middle of the night when traffic will have been lighter, this isn’t always the case – some of the fastest drivers were clocked at other times of day when they’d have been sharing the roads with many others.

“Speed is the leading cause of deaths on UK roads. We look forward to the Government’s forthcoming road safety strategy understanding what can be done to reduce such avoidable casualties on the UK’s roads.”

National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for roads policing Chief Constable Jo Shiner said: “We know that some incidents of going over the speed limit can be genuine mistakes or errors but the speeds cited here are clearly drivers taking deliberate decisions to travel at excessive speeds, putting everyone at risk.

“Speed limits are set based on many factors including the road layout, what’s in the surrounding area and taking into account where there might be more vulnerable road users. Choosing to drive above those limits is reckless, selfish and completely unacceptable.

“We all have a responsibility to keep each other safe and do whatever we can to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads each day.”

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “One life lost on our roads is one too many and that’s why I’m committed to Vision Zero. No more deaths on our roads.

“Too many people are being killed or seriously injured and we need to act now. I’ve launched a Road Safety Action Plan and appointed the UK’s first dedicated road safety commissioner, Mat MacDonald, to make sure communities’ voices are heard and real action is taken to prevent more tragedies on our roads.”

The RAC’s study on speeding – one of the so-called ‘Fatal Four’ behaviours that cause most fatal collisions on the roads*** – follows its earlier work in January that identified a culture of speeding among some drivers in the UK.