Is pushing your speed worth it?

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

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 54 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 If you’re still within 2 years of passing your driving test, your driving licence will be withdrawn if you build up 6 or more penalty points.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 2021, 60% 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.