A new survey of 2,000 motorists has revealed exactly when drivers are most likely to flout the Highway Code. If you’re out on the roads during the morning rush hour or evening commute, it might be worth taking extra care as the poll revealed drivers are most likely to break the law at 8:27am and 7:15pm, and for a variety of reasons.
While a quarter of those polled admitted to regularly exceeding the legal speed limit, nearly half said they’re more likely to ignore the rules of the road in areas they know well or when the roads appear empty. Remarkably, 15% confessed they’re likely to speed when desperate for the loo. Other reasons people admitted to breaking road law included medical emergencies or misjudging the speed limit.
Alain Zweibrucker, CEO for AXA Retail, which commissioned the research as part of its ‘Backseat Boss’ road safety education programme , said: “It’s vital for motorists to stay alert when on the road and avoid distractions that can cause accidents. This is especially important near schools, yet you still see many ignoring signs even when children are nearby.
“Being distracted at the wheel may seem harmless in the moment – such as replying to ‘just one text’ – but when driving, everything can change in an instant.”
To combat this, nearly nine in 10 believe there should be a blanket 20mph speed limit outside primary schools during drop-off and pick-up times, while 86% feel local authorities should work more closely with primary schools to make roads safer.
However, more than a fifth (22%) believe current speed limits in the UK are too low. Of those caught speeding, 29% saw their insurance costs increase while 18% were left to pay higher excess, and 6% even had to move to a specialist high-risk insurer.
Alain Zweibrucker added: “Speeding is only one of the many ways motorists can break the Highway Code when in the driver’s seat. But it’s a really easy way to cause an accident, which can end up affecting your insurance costs when it comes to renewal time.
“It’s especially important to be mindful of your speed in built-up areas, and around schools as younger children’s behaviour can be unpredictable.”
Nearly a fifth (19%) have even had child passengers comment on their driving – with 30% of them saying they were travelling too fast, and 14% being told off for using a phone.
Katrina Phillips, CEO of road safety charity Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT), said: “While it might be tempting to speed in an area we know well, what we can’t anticipate is a child suddenly running or veering out in front of us.
“The speed we drive at can be the difference between life and death for that child. We can help drivers stick to the rules of the road and the speed limits in place outside primary schools at busy drop-off and pick-up times.”
THE TOP 10 REASONS DRIVERS ARE LIKELY TO BREAK A DRIVING LAW:
1. Medical emergency
2. Road is empty or quiet
3. Misjudging the speed limit
4. Late for an appointment
5. Not concentrating on how fast I am driving
6. Running late for work
7. Being late for an event
8. Trying to make up time after a delay
9. Distracted and not paying attention
10. Needing to use the toilet urgently
