The frequency of speeding incidents more than tripled during lockdown, according to telematics – or ‘black box’ – data from 7.74 million personal, fleet as well as industrial vehicle journeys taken in the very first six months of 2020.
In April 2020, at the height of the UK’s coronavirus lockdown, drivers dedicated a level four speeding event – the most serious type of incident across all speed limits (e.g. 51-62mph in a 30mph zone or 96-101mph in a 60mph zone) – when every 136 miles. By comparison, these incidents only occurred when every 443 miles in February 2020.
UK speed camera tolerances revealed: is your car’s speedo accurate?
Speed limit
20mph
30mph
40mph
50mph
60mph
70mph
Level two
32-35mph
42-47mph
56-59mph
70-74mph
84-89mph
91-97mph
Level three
36-37mph
48-50mph
60-63mph
75-79mph
90-95mph
98-104mph
Level four
38-41mph
51-62mph
64-71mph
80-84mph
96-101mph
105-111mph
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Meanwhile, level two speeding events, such as 42-47mph in a 30mph zone or 84-89mph in a 60mph zone, likewise ended up being more frequent, happening when every 32 miles on typical in April 2020. That compares with every 94 miles in February.
The data from vehicle security as well as administration innovation supplier AX likewise showed that in spite of people driving less during lockdown, the overall number of speeding incidents was really higher during lockdown than it had been before.
For example, the number of level four speeding events increased from 1,213 in February 2020 to 1,374 in April, while level two events increased from 5,693 to 5,864 over the exact same period.
Car drivers were the worst offenders, with level two speeding events happening four times as commonly during lockdown then before. Van drivers were better, however still not perfect – the frequency of their level two offences doubled during lockdown.
Neil Thomas, director of investigative services at AX, said: “Whether it was just down to reduced web traffic levels during lockdown or perhaps drivers presuming authorities forces had bigger priorities, the data shows that provided the opportunity, many drivers are clearly willing to speed as well as rather commonly significantly so.
“It goes without stating that extreme speed is detrimental to everyone’s safety, however it poses an extra issue for fleet managers who have a obligation for the security of their drivers as well as vehicles.”
Check out whatever you requirement to understand about speed limits here…