“Do Brits think the speed limit should be increased?”

AskVC is a free service. Questions shouted out on Twitter, using the #AskVC hashtag, are reviewed and the winners asked as part of Vision Critical’s UK omnibus.

This question was asked w/c 7 November, 2011, with a base just over 2000 people. If you’d like to know more about Vision Critical’s omnibus or online field services please contact will.cooper@visioncritical.com.

AskVCShould the speed limit be increased in England/Wales?Data table on next page, fieldwork Nov 8&9, 2011

AskVC asked over 2000 people from the Vision Critical’s National Panel SpringboardUK “The Government is thinking about increasing the speed limit on motorways in England and Wales from 70mph to 80mph. Do you think the speed limit should be:”

The results for the total sample were :Increased 42%Stay the Same 47%Decreased 8%Don’t know 3%

47% of the UK population said that the speed limit should stay the same. Nearly as many, 42%, said they wanted this increased.

Looking at three geographic regions: London, Scotland and the rest of England and Wales. Londoners were the most likely at 53% to say they wanted to keep the speed limit the same whereas those in Scotland were least likely (39%). Those in the rest of England and Wales fell between these two.

In terms of gender, more than half of females (54%) stated they would like the speed limit to remain the same whereas 52% of males said they wanted it increasing (with just 32% of females saying they wanted an increase) – reinforcing traditional gender stereotypes.

In terms of age, the stereotypes also held true, with 48% of younger drivers (aged 18-34) saying the speed limit should be increased. Conversely, those aged 55 and over were less likely (37%) to say they wanted an increased speed limit.

Comments by Stephanie Hall and Ray Poynter

AskVCShould the speed limit be increased in England/Wales?

If you’d like to ask a question to the Brits, shout it out on Twitter using the hashtag #AskVC

The Government is thinking about increasing the speed limit on motorways in England and Wales from 70mph to 80mph. Do you think the speed limit should be:

Total

Region Gender Age Social Grade

LondonRest of South

Midlands Wales North Scotland Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ ABC1 C2DE

BASE: All Respondents

2058 261 664 442 508 183 997 1061 580 742 736 1051 1007

BASE: UNWEIGHTED

2058 247 653 453 526 179 1063 995 517 780 761 1075 983

Increased

862 90 293 194 200 85 523 338 279 310 273 478 384

42% 35% 44% 44% 39% 47% 52% 32% 48% 42% 37% 45% 38%

Stay the same

971 138 299 210 252 72 402 569 242 339 390 492 479

47% 53% 45% 47% 50% 39% 40% 54% 42% 46% 53% 47% 48%

Decreased

166 21 53 31 40 22 53 113 28 76 62 57 110

8% 8% 8% 7% 8% 12% 5% 11% 5% 10% 8% 5% 11%

Don’t know

59 12 20 7 15 4 19 40 31 17 11 25 34

3% 5% 3% 2% 3% 2% 2% 4% 5% 2% 1% 2% 3%