This report provides details of a Scottish Executive study on the causes and consequences of speeding. The study consisted of a literature review, driver focus groups, interviews with drivers after collisions, a review of anti-speeding campaigns in Scotland, an analysis of police speeding offence records, and a household survey of 1000 drivers. The main findings were that excessive urban speed has decreased over the last 10 years, public support for traffic restraint measures has increased but for safety cameras had decreased, attitudes to speed limits were lax, most speeding offences occurred on urban roads, that male drivers were more likely to be more than 20mph over the speed limit, that 30-35% were likely to speed on the motorway, 10% were likely to speed on rural roads, and drivers in the 21-29 age group were more likely to speed than older drivers. For male drivers, the more road types for which their normal speed exceeded the speed limit, the more likely they were to have recently been involved in an acident. Over half the drivers were more likely to drive faster when running behind schedule or when late for an appointment. There was little effect on the likelihood of detection on the choice of speed. Women were more likely to believe that speed limits were set correctly, and to be in favour of speed cameras than men. Speeding drivers, especially younger male drivers, were suggested as targets for anti-speeding campaigns.
Abstract