A growing number of drivers are supportive of lower speed limits if they help drivers get cheaper car insurance costs, according to new data.
Research has found that 36 per cent of British motorists would welcome a broader rollout of 20mph speed limits if it resulted in paying less for motor insurance.
A further 54 per cent would be happy to have lower limits across most roads if it brought down the cost of cover, which has been one of the biggest concerns for drivers in recent years.
Despite the optimism for the scheme, 17 per cent say that 20mph speed limits are too low, regardless of what savings could be delivered for insurance costs.
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A growing number of drivers are supportive of 20mph speed limits if they cut car insurance prices
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Drivers across the UK will see the rollout of more 20mph zones in the near future as Scotland aims to have all restricted and most residential roads have a default speed of 20mph by the end of the year.
This follows the example of Wales, which introduced the default speed limit of 20mph in September 2023, although this caused widespread condemnation from motorists.
As part of the backlash, a record-breaking petition was set up to call on the Welsh Government to scrap the rules, which campaigners saw as being repressive.
Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said previous research from the company in late 2023 showed widespread support, with seven in 10 people against them.
He called the new findings “interesting”, with drivers slowly warming to the idea of the slower speeds if it meant they could save money.
Burgess added: “What they show is that a significant number of motorists recognise the direct links between reduced speed and accidents and their insurance bill, and are happy for limits to be lower if they can make a saving.
“This applies to 20mph zones for about a third of people but more than half would be willing to go slower generally.”
According to Confused, the average price of car insurance is a staggering £834, although this is a drop from £941 at the start of 2024.
Further data shows that prices have fallen by £27 (three per cent) in the past three months alone, resulting in the lowest recorded price in the last year and a half.
Regardless of the average cost of car insurance, 24 per cent of people said that 20mph speed limits are a good idea for safety purposes.
Burgess added: “There’s definitely a hardcore of people who really don’t like 20mph limits but it’s perhaps worth noting they are outnumbered by those who back their introduction on safety grounds alone.”
Exclusive research from GB News found that Hertfordshire County Council introduced the most 20mph roads across England between January 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024, with 324.
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Some drivers remain against 20mph speed limits even if car insurance prices dropped
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Other local authorities who made a significant number of speed limit changes included Kent, Surrey, Devon and Essex.
Campaigners have called for 20mph to be the default speed limit in built-up areas, with local authorities being in charge of any exceptions which could be necessary.
Based in New York, Stephen Freeman is a Senior Editor at Trending Insurance News. Previously he has worked for Forbes and The Huffington Post. Steven is a graduate of Risk Management at the University of New York.