More than half of cars and vans exceeded the speed limit in towns and on motorways in 2020, indicating that driver behaviour declined as a result of emptier roads.

According to Department for Transport figures, in 2020, under free-flowing traffic conditions, 56 percent of cars exceeded the speed limit on 30mph roads, compared to 53 percent on motorways and 12 percent on national speed limit single carriageway roads.

This compares to 54 percent, 50 percent and 9 percent respectively for 2019. Previously, vehicle speed compliance has remained broadly stable from 2011 to 2019.

For vans, 55 percent were found to have exceeded the speed limit on motorways, along with 58 percent on 30mph roads.

See the full Department for Transport report