Is pushing your speed worth it?

You might have travelled the same route hundreds of times and think that driving slightly faster than the right speed for the conditions, isn’t risky. But even going a little too fast for the road conditions can increase your chances of being killed or seriously injured.

Remember, rural roads change quickly. Is pushing it worth it? THINK!

Speeding – the facts 

  • When driving, a few miles per hour can mean the difference between life and death. The faster you drive, the less time you have to stop if something unexpected happens.
  • The speed limit is the absolute maximum and it doesn’t mean it’s safe to drive at this speed in all conditions.
  • Speed contributes to around 1 in 4 fatal collisions on our roads, and on average kills and injures 58 young people a week. This includes collisions where the driver was within the speed limit but driving too fast for the road conditions.
  • The minimum penalty for speeding is a £100 fine and 3 penalty points added to your licence. If you’re still within 2 years of passing your driving test, your driving licence will be withdrawn if you build up 6 or more penalty points.

Rural roads – the facts 

  • On average, three people die each day on country roads.
  • In 2022, 61% of all young male car driver serious and fatal collisions happened on rural roads.

Find out more 

Speeding penalties – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

Driving on country roads – your complete guide | RAC Drive. 

The Highway Code – Driving in adverse weather conditions (226 to 237) – Guidance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)