Data shows that 90% of drivers speed in ‘inappropriate’ 20mph zones.

OFFICIAL Department of Transport (DfT) figures show that British drivers speed to an alarming degree.

The study, conducted in 2021, looked at residential areas with speed limits of 20 and 30 miles per hour, as well as the most common excuses given by those caught.

According to the latest DfT figures, 87 percent of British car drivers routinely exceed the 20mph speed limit in residential areas.

According to the latest statistics, 51% of drivers still exceed the 30mph limit.

Despite a drop in speeding of 63 percent during the first lockdown, the return to pre-pandemic levels of traffic appears to have had no long-term impact on driver behaviour.

The data also shows that 48 percent of motorists exceeded the speed limit on highways.

The top excuse given by those who admitted to speeding was: ‘I drive according to the speed of other road users.’

On 20mph roads, users frequently cited the speed limit as ‘inappropriate.’

Other common reasons for exceeding the speed limit included ‘going faster is sometimes safer,’ ‘pressure from other drivers,’ and ‘I don’t look at the speedometer enough.’

Drivers who exceed the speed limit face a £100 fine and three penalty points on their license.

If they exceed 41mph in a 30mph zone, they will receive six points and a fine of up to £1,000.

“It’s staggering to realize that half of all motorists are still breaking the speed limit in residential 30mph zones, and there is no encouraging longer-term downward trend,” said Greg Wilson, founder of car insurance comparison platform “Given the high volume of pedestrians and children playing in residential areas, it is concerning that this is still an issue. While many drivers may believe that exceeding the speed limit by a small margin is a minor offence, the law sees it differently.

“There is no ‘look the other way’ if motorists exceed the speed limit by less than 10% – that is a myth.”