Nearly half of people say speeding has increased during lockdown – survey

Nearly half of people have witnessed an increase in drivers breaking the speed limit during the coronavirus lockdown, a new survey indicates.

Some 44% of respondents to an RAC poll said they have seen more motorists speeding now than they did before March 23 when the Government introduced the ban on non-essential journeys.

Roads with 30mph limits appear to be the most abused, with 23% of the 2,020 people questioned saying they have seen drivers clearly going too fast.

Department for Transport figures show that road traffic is around two thirds lower than normal due to the lockdown.

Police forces have warned that some drivers are using empty roads as a racetrack.

The Metropolitan Police recently clocked one driver doing 134mph in a 40mph zone, while Greater Manchester Police recorded a driver doing 129mph on the M62.

RAC road safety spokesman Simon Williams said: “It would only take a fraction of a second when driving well over the speed limit for something terrible to happen.

“Couple this behaviour with the fact there are many cyclists on our roads and more people are having to walk in the road to maintain a safe distance from others on pavements, and you have a recipe for disaster.

“The last thing the NHS needs as it works night and day to help patients with coronavirus is to have to deal with people injured in avoidable road traffic collisions caused by motorists driving far too fast.”