Nearly a quarter of Welsh drivers are ignorant of UK speed limits, says The Co-operative Insurance company.
Despite speed being one of the main causes of road accidents a third of drivers have no idea what the speed limit is for particular roads.
The national speed limit on a single carriageway road is 60mph. However, over a third (38%) of drivers cannot correctly say what the national speed limit is on these roads with 25% believing that it is 50mph, and a tenth believing that it is 70mph or more.
Drivers’ knowledge of the speed limit on a dual carriageway, where the national speed limit is 70mph, isn’t much better. Over a third of drivers (36%) are unable to identify that this is 70mph.
More than a quarter of drivers (27%) believe that it is 60mph, one in twenty believe that it is 50mph, with 2% thinking that it is 80mph or more.
And when it comes to motorways, 12% don’t know that the limit is 70mph.
Younger drivers are more clued up when it comes to speed limits with drivers aged 55+ knowing the least about the national speed limits.
Welsh ignorance
It asked drivers to state the national speed limits on a variety of roads and answers given in Wales showed:
- 39% of drivers can’t correctly say what the national speed limit is on a single carriageway road
- 24% of drivers can’t correctly say what the national speed limit is on a dual carriageway
- 6% of drivers can’t correctly say what the national speed limit is on the motorway.
Drivers in London seem the most baffled by speed, with motorists in the city having the least awareness of speed than in any other part of Britain.
Over half (53.5%) couldn’t say what the national speed limit is on a single carriageway, 46% on a dual carriageway and 22% on a motorway.
Steve Kerrigan, Head of Telematics at The Co-operative Insurance said, “These figures show that all too often drivers are getting into their cars and driving with no real awareness of the speed limits in place.
“It is interesting that younger drivers – who are so often thought as being more dangerous – are so much more aware of national speed limits than older, often more experienced drivers.
“The impact of not being aware of speed limits on the roads can’t be underestimated; limits are set for a reason and driving without knowing can have harmful consequences to other road users and pedestrians, especially if you are travelling too fast.”
