The speeding driver: Who, Why and How?

The Scottish Executive commissioned research to follow up previous studies on the causes and consequences of speeding. This study consists of:

• A review of national and international literature
• Focus groups with drivers of different ages, gender, trip obligations and inclinations towards speeding
• Interviews with crash-involved drivers
• A review of recent anti-speeding campaigns and initiatives in Scotland
• An analysis of a sample of police records of speeding offences
• An extensive household survey of over 1,000 Scottish car drivers

Results were compared with previous studies and a comprehensive picture of the attitudes and behaviour of speeding drivers in Scotland and of the association between their speeding behaviours and their recent crash-history was compiled.

The main findings included:

• Over the last decade in Scotland excessive speed in town has fallen, with 4 out of 5 drivers in 2002, compared to 3 out of 5 in 1991, saying they never drive at 50 mph in a 30 mph zone, but there have been increases in the percentage of drivers reporting excess speed (driving at 80 mph) and excessive speed (driving at 90 mph) in 70 mph zones.

• Over the same period Scottish drivers’ attitudes to speed limits has remained unchanged but there has been a substantial rise in support for engineering measures to reduce speed in residential areas with support for vertical deflections (‘speed bumps’) rising from 53% to 76% and support for 20 mph limits rising from 22% to 86%. The number of motorists who have seen speed cameras in Scotland rose from 54% to 96%, with support for camera enforcement slipping slightly from 80% to 75%.

• Findings from eight focus groups covering a wide range of drivers – male, female, young, old, high mileage, rural, inexperienced – illustrated some of the common beliefs that inform Scottish drivers’ conduct on the roads (see report for detail).

• A sample of police records showed that most speeding offences occurred on built-up roads and that offending levels were highest during the weekday inter-peak period.