The DVLA has announced their support of the Go Safe Wales Welsh speed limit campaign: Relevant Speed Limits.
This new campaign has come from the leading Welsh government funded partnership dedicated to keeping the roads safe. It aims to improve driver’s compliance with speed limits through three key areas:
- Education – The campaign aims to educate people on the devastating effects of not sticking to speed limits. This includes the effect on families, as well as injured persons.
- Enforcement – Speed cameras will continue to work to catch motorists who are exceeding the speed limit, not wearing their seatbelts or using mobile phones whilst driving.
- Engineering – There are plans to work with partners to develop further solutions and focus on key areas where safety is considered particularly at risk. Speed indicator devices are one consideration.
Driving Instructors and the Speed Limit
According to Go Safe evidence the three most vulnerable groups most likely to exceed speed limits are young drivers, motorcyclists and professionals. With young drivers highlighted as one of the highest at-risk categories, it falls to driving instructors to further enforce how important speed limits are.
Beyond passing the current driving test, there are suggestions that motorway practice should be compulsory, helping to teach new drivers the appropriate speed management for the fastest roads.
With this in mind, all driving schools and self-employed professionals will need to ensure their driving instructor insurance covers them for all eventualities.
Consequences of Speeding
The very real consequences of speeding go far beyond adding a few points on your driving licence. The risk of serious injury and death should not be discounted and the danger to other road users is also exceptionally high.
A good driving instructor should have the professionalism to teach their students exactly why speed limits exist. They should also offer tips on how to plan their driving to ensure they never find themselves with the ‘need to speed’.
The government is continually striving to find answers to the speeding problem in the UK and this new Welsh campaign is one further step. Go Wales’ campaigns tirelessly to try and convince people the importance of sticking to the right speed.