Seven out of 10 motorists say that the 20mph speed limit imposed in Wales in September shouldn’t spread across the rest of the UK.
Research from Startline’s November Used Car Tracker shows that 20% think that it is “just too slow” while 15% also say that too few drivers would stick to the new limit.
Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: “It’s fair to say that there is relatively limited enthusiasm for wider use of 20mph across the UK, as well as some scepticism that many drivers would respect the new limit even if it was introduced.
“The move appears to have been quite divisive in Wales and it looks as though it would be similarly controversial if applied in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It’s perhaps noteworthy that 4% of people we surveyed admitted that they wouldn’t stick to the limit themselves.”
However, almost one in four people (23%) surveyed by Startline believe that reducing the limit to 20mph would save lives – although one in five (20%) say that 30mph roads are “already safe enough.”
Paul added: “The Welsh government’s argument has been entirely based around safety and that lower speed limits in urban areas are proven to save lives. A sizeable minority of those we questioned definitely agree with that approach.
“It’ll be interesting to see what happens in Wales over the next few years, whether the 20mph limit becomes something that motorists accept as part of everyday driving or if it continues to remain a subject of debate that has some political potency.”
In central London there is a current 20mph limit on roads and some councils across the country have also imposed the lower limit but it’s not a default limit as in Wales, where councils have to apply to restore it to 30mph.
Meanwhile, the deteriorating state of British roads has bumped into focus with a new analysis by the RAC.
The poor condition of Britain’s local roads has led to the RAC dealing with the highest number of pothole-related breakdowns it has seen in any third quarter since it began recording this data in 2006, up over 46%.
RAC patrols went to the rescue of 5,978 drivers from July to September for damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs or distorted wheels – the call-outs which are most likely to be caused by wear and tear from defective road surfaces.