The use of average speed cameras on the UK motorway network is being encouraged, with more than half of drivers believing that monitoring a driver’s speed over a longer distance is the best form of enforcement.

The news comes as part of a RAC Report on Motoring, which found that of the 3,000 drivers surveyed, 58 per cent said they favoured average speed cameras over a single, fixed location camera. However, despite the fact that most drivers would agree that average speed measurement is the best precautionary measure, 56 per cent said that they have broken the speed limit on motorways, and one in three said they have travelled beyond 80mph.

When asked why they broke the speed limit, 39 per cent said they fell victim to peer pressure and simply sped because other cars were doing the same. Worryingly one in three said they felt that it was safe to travel faster than 70mph.

RAC road safety spokesman Simon Williams said: “Despite more than half of drivers admitting to regularly exceeding the 70-mph speed limit, road safety statistics clearly show that motorways are our safest roads.

“With so many motorists admitting to driving much faster than they should on the motorway, it was interesting to see such strong support for average speed cameras to be used more widely to enforce the 70-mph limit as opposed to just in roadworks, as is currently the case. We believe drivers see these cameras as being very effective at reducing speeds over longer distances and controlling traffic flow as well as being fairer than fixed position ones as they aren’t instantly punished for a momentary transgression.

“Our research shows speed limit compliance on all types of road has improved on previous years, but as our study was carried out during the pandemic we suspect this has partly been brought about by the reduction in the number of journeys carried out for the purposes of commuting – or for other business purposes – where drivers feel greater time pressure and may be more tempted to break the law by speeding.”

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