More Speeding Drivers Causes Serious Injury Risk

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Matthew Clayton Profile Picture
Matthew Clayton

Partner, Serious Injury Solicitor

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More than half of drivers and motorcyclists broke the speed limit during 2020, so could riskier roads be a lasting legacy of lockdown?

According to government data, 56% of cars broke the speed limit on 30mph roads last year, along with 58% of vans and 67% of motorcycles.

As the British population were ordered to stay at home and traffic levels dropped dramatically, it seems some road users felt they could take advantage of the quieter roads and drive as fast as they liked.

But as the country has re-opened post-lockdown, have drivers who ignored road regulations suddenly changed their habits and decided to stick to speed limits?

Or have people carried on speeding and put more people at risk of serious injury?

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2022 Speed Limit Statistics

Now that we are further down the line, let’s take a look at how many drivers have been caught speeding since lockdown ended.

In 2022, the amount of people who compiled with speed limits was similar to 2020 and 2021. Around 45% of drivers broke the speed limit on motorways, with 11% of cars doing the same on single carriageways. An additional 50% of drivers broke the speed limit on 30mph roads.

As far as the above Government data shows, it doesn’t look like drivers are set to be more considerate and safer on the roads even with Covid-19 behind us.

But why do driver’s break the speed limits? Let’s take a look.

  • 42% of motorway users stated that they drive according to the speed of other drivers.
  • 47% of 20mph road users stated that they speed due to the limit being inappropriate for the road.
  • 31% of motorway users said that they felt that it’s safe to sometimes go over the speed limit.

The Home Office has reported that there were 2.4 million speed offences in 2021 in England and Wales, which is an increase of 59% when comparing the data to 2011. 221,927 people were given a speed limit offence in 2022, which is an increase of 98% since 2011.

What Does this Mean for Road Safety?

Motor vehicle traffic levels between June 2022 and June 2023 were 3.1% below pre-pandemic levels.

But much of the speeding activity we saw during lockdown took place in built-up areas, close to houses and schools.

So, there’s a very real possibility that these roads could be particularly dangerous, unless action is taken to curb speeding all over the country.

An Epidemic of Speeding?

Pedestrians such as people going to their local shop or children who are walking to school should feel safe. And law-abiding motorists, cyclists, and motorcycle riders should feel confident that other drivers around them are acting responsibly.

We don’t want to see a new epidemic of speeding drivers making our streets no-go areas, as we seek to rebuild our lives and learn to live with Covid.

If you’ve suffered a serious injury because you’ve been hit by a vehicle that was speeding, contact our Serious Injury Solicitors.

Our friendly team of experts have huge experience in this area of law, and offer a free consultation, so we can speak with you about your situation and discuss how we can help you.

Road Traffic Accident Compensation Claims

If you have been involved in a road traffic accident, our expert solicitors could help you achieve the compensation, support, and rehabilitation that you deserve. While compensation won’t change what happened or make it right, it will help you to re-build your life following a traumatic injury.

It is important that you contact our Road Traffic Accident Solicitors as soon as possible after your accident. Get in touch to arrange a free no-obligation claims assessment to see what you could be entitled to. We will let you know if you are likely to have a successful claim and what the best steps are to take.

When to Start a Claim for Compensation

If you have been involved in a road traffic accident, your health is the priority. You should always make sure that you get the appropriate medical treatment before doing anything else. Once you have recovered, you should seek legal advice with our expert solicitors.

You only have 3 years to bring a claim which runs from the date of the accident. The only exception to this rule is if you are unaware of your injuries until a later date. Your 3-year timeframe then starts from the ‘date of knowledge’.

Claiming Compensation for an Accident that was Your Fault

If you think that you were to blame for the accident, even if you were partially responsible, it is still worth speaking to us about your case. Even if you were partially responsible for the accident, you may still be able to claim compensation. We will talk to you about what happened to determine whether you have a case. We will give you an honest answer and tell you your chances of being successful.

What to Do If Your Insurance Company Recommends a Law Firm

Most insurance companies will have preferred solicitors that they like to work with. But you are still free to decide for yourself for the best team for you. Your insurance company have the right to recommend solicitors to you, but they cannot insist that you use the team that they prefer.

When considering a claim for compensation, it is important that you choose a solicitor that you are happy with, and you feel you can easily communicate with them. We have offices all over the UK, but if you’re not local to one of our branches, we will be happy to arrange appointments over the phone. Our service is completely flexible, and we will work with you to provide you with the support you need.

Medical Examinations

If you were injured in your road traffic accident, you should seek medical attention immediately. Even if you have minor injuries, it is important that you get a professional opinion, as they may be more serious than you initially think.

As part of your claim, we will arrange for an independent medical examination. This will help us to determine the true extent of your injuries, the impact they have had on your life, and if they will impact your future. This examination is vital for working out how much compensation you are entitled to.

For example, if a medical examiner determines that your injuries will result in a lot of time off work, you can claim for your loss of future wages.

No Win, No Fee Agreement

We offer most of our road traffic accident clients a No Win, No Fee agreement. If you are interested in this, ask for details during your consultation call.

Our No Win, No Fee agreement means that you will not pay a single penny upfront for our services. There is also nothing to pay if your claim is unsuccessful.

If your claim does win, the other party will cover most of your legal fees. But if there is anything outstanding, this will be taken out of your compensation amount.

To find out more about this service, ask us for all the details.

Why Choose Us

We have successfully helped thousands of people just like you secure the compensation that they deserve. An accident of this nature can have a serious impact on your health and future life.

Our solicitors can offer expert legal advice for your claim, to help you re-build your life following the accident. Not only can we help you to secure compensation, but we can also signpost you to support services that can assist you with rehabilitation and ongoing support.

Dealing with a road traffic accident is traumatic enough, so we aim to remove all the stress from your claim. We will handle everything while always keeping you in the loop, so you know that everything is being taken care of.

If you think that you have a claim, get in touch with us today. Our specialist team have a wealth of experience and will be happy to discuss how we can help. Whether you have a couple of questions or you would like to instruct us to oversee a claim of compensation, we can help in any way that you need.

References:

GOV.UK. (n.d.). Vehicle speed compliance statistics for Great Britain: 2022. [online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/vehicle-speed-compliance-statistics-for-great-britain-2022

Matthew Clayton Profile Picture

Matthew Clayton

Partner, Serious Injury Solicitor

Areas of Expertise:
Personal Injury

Matthew specialises in Serious Injury claims for compensation including AmputationsBrain Damage and Head Injuries, and Spinal Cord Injuries.

Matthew joined Simpson Millar in November 2016, and heads our department which looks after clients who have suffered life changing injuries.

Matthew is a former Principal Lawyer with Slater and Gordon Lawyers UK. He qualified as a Lawyer in 1990, and has a wealth of experience in helping clients who have suffered a range of injuries.

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