HC Deb 18 April 1988 vol 131 cc359-60W
39. Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of motorway traffic he estimates exceeds the mandatory speed limit.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

A national speed survey was carried out in 1987 and the results were published in January. This showed :

Percentage exceeding limit
1987 1983
(a) Vehicle subject to 70 mph
Cars 36 40
Two-wheeled motor vehicles 50 47
Buses and coaches 9 31
Vans 22 19
Minibuses 12 22
(b) Vehicles subject to 60 mph
HGVs—Rigid 21 30
HGVs—Articulated 22 50
(c) Vehicles subject to 50 mph when survey taken in 1983, now 60 mph
Car towing 7 64

Although the proportion exceeding the 70 mph limit on motorways has fallen, there has regrettably been no decrease in the proportion exceeding 75 mph.