This survey was carried out using in-road vehicle detectors at 9 motorway sites, 3 dual carriageway non built-up sites and 16 single carriageway non built-up "A" road sites, collected as part of the National Traffic Census. Over 9 million vehicle speeds were analysed. It is shown that in free flowing motorway traffic, 60% of the 5 million cars surveyed exceeded 70 mph, while 23% exceeded 80 mph, and 3% 90 mph. For motorcycles, 59% exceeded 70 mph, 31% 80 mph, and 14% 90 mph. About 40% of heavy goods vehicles (HGV's) exceeded their 60 mph speed limit. At the non built-up dual carriageway sites, 38% of cars exceeded the 70 mph limit. Twenty six per cent of motorcyclists exceeded 80 mph. The 50 mph speed limit was exceeded by the majority (78%) of the largest HGV's. For buses and coaches, 29% exceeded their 60 mph limit. At the single carriageway sites, 19% of cars, 7% of light goods vehicles, and 34% of motorcyclists exceeded the speed limit of 60 mph. On average 70% of HGV's exceeded their 40 mph limit, but only 18% exceeded 50 mph. For the abstract of the previous speed survey see IRRD 816873.
Abstract