The percentage of motorcycles exceeding the speed limit rose on all road types during 2020 – as a result of lower traffic levels caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
That’s according to new Government statistics, which measure speed and compliance at sites where the road conditions are ‘free flowing’ – for example roads with no junctions, hills, sharp bends, speed enforcement cameras or other traffic calming measures.
The stats show that in 2020, 58% of motorcycles exceeded the speed limit on motorways, an increase from 53% in 2019.
They highlight a similar rise on National Speed Limit (NSL) single carriageways (up from 26% in 2019 to 29% in 2020) and on 30mph roads (up from 63% in 2019 to 67% in 2020).
The stats are in line with other vehicle types, such as cars, among which compliance also fell.
The DfT says trends in speed limit compliance in 2020 coincided with the ‘exceptional changes’ in road traffic caused by Covid-19 lockdowns.
The DfT adds that without the Covid-19 impact on traffic levels, it would expect speed limit compliance to have remained in line with previous years.
The proportion of motorcycles exceeding the speed limit by over 10mph on motorways was 22%, compared to 19% of motorcycles on 30mph and 11% on NSL single carriageway roads.
14 July 2021
