Speed Compliance Statistics, Great Britain 2016

These DfT statistics measure speed and compliance at sites where the road conditions are free flowing – for example roads with no junctions, hills, sharp bends, speed enforcement cameras or other traffic calming measures.

Overall, the figures show that since 2011, the percentages of vehicles exceeding the speed limit in free flow conditions have declined slightly for most vehicle and road types.

The statistics show that during 2016, 81% of cars exceeded the speed limit on roads with a 20mph limit, with 15% exceeding the limit by more than 10mph.

The statistics also show that single carriageway roads where the national speed limit (60mph) applies had the highest levels of speed limit compliance; 8% of cars exceeded the speed limit on these roads, with 1% exceeding by more than 10mph.

On motorways, 46% of cars exceeded the 70mph speed limit, falling to 11% exceeding the limit by more than 10mph – while on 30mph roads, 53% of cars exceeded the speed limit.

The number exceeding the speed limit is lower during the daytime and higher at night, for most vehicle and road type combinations.