Fine drivers for going 1mph over limit: Fury as cycling campaigners call for motorists to be punished

In most cases, drivers will not be charged for speeding at 10 per cent plus two miles per hour, meaning motorists could travel at 35mph in a 30mph zone without necessarily being fined.

The report stated that speed limits “represent the foundation of road justice” because speeding accounts for the lion’s share of motoring offences.

More than 80 per cent of Britons think it is not safe to speed even slightly on residential streets, compared with just eight per cent who believe the opposite.

Lucy Straker, campaigns manager at road safety charity Brake, said law changes were necessary to reduce accidents and prevent people from being hurt on the roads.

She said: “In my opinion, people should be penalised for driving one mile per hour above the speed limit because every mile per hour increase in speed when we drive increases the risk of a crash and increases the risk of death or serious injury if a crash should happen.

“Every day five people die on UK roads. That’s five families, five communities dealing with the devastating consequences of the needless and tragic loss of life.

“Speed is a factor in every single crash. The faster we drive, the greater the risk of crashing and the harder we hit if we do crash.

“That’s why Brake is calling for everyone to drive within the speed limit, not over it,” she told BBC Radio 5 Live.

This was met with a number of different responses from drivers across the country, with some arguing that it would not be possible to enforce the laws, while others said speed limits should go up.

One listener, Kate, said it was “impossible” to make these changes, hence why the police give reasonable allowance to drivers.

Another listener, Leeboy, said that speed limits need to increase, saying: “80mph on motorways, more bicycle road systems rather than ridiculous cycle lanes that infuriate drivers who should be able to get where they are going at a decent pace.

“The only reason to talk about slowing cars is because of the underspend to the system.”

A third listener claimed: “If you change a 30mph limit to a 20mph limit then drivers are going to drive at 21mph and 22mph, surely that’s a success.”

The report also called on the Government and road safety charities to widen the understanding of the Highway Code following a major update in January 2022.

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It suggested that a “very extensive and ongoing” communications campaign was required to increase the understanding of the Highway Code, as well as its compliance.