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Profile of a Speeder
The perceived image of a speeder as a young lad in a baseball cap has been shattered by new research undertaken by the
RAC Foundation and
Autocar
magazine.
Results from a recent survey demonstrate that the average driver with a speeding conviction is actually more likely to be the father of that stereotype.
The profile of the person most likely to have been prosecuted for speeding is:
* Male
* Aged between 45 and 54
* An executive, professional or senior manager
* Living in the West Country, Wales, Yorkshire or East Anglia
* Married or living with a partner and children
* Working full time
* Living in a household with two or more cars
He is most likely to be driving:
* A company car
* A BMW, Citroen or Ford
* Over 15,000 miles a year
* A coupe, roadster or 4x4
Conversely - the profile of the least likely person in the country to have a speeding conviction, according to the research, is an elderly woman on a state pension driving a Volvo and living in Scotland.
Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation said: "This research appears to rubbish the usual stereotype of a speeder as young, lawless and uncaring. What we have instead is a very different picture of middle age, responsibility and authority.
"There also seems to be a clear correlation between the amount of time someone spends on the road and the likelihood of them having a speeding conviction. Such is the growth in the number of speed cameras on the UK's roads that the chances of being caught by one are increased for high mileage drivers.
"We had 1.2 million convictions for speeding last year and that's expected to grow substantially again this year - clearly the threat of a fine and penalty points is no longer acting as a deterrent. That's why it is vital that we actually change attitudes towards speed and consequently driver behaviour."
While the number of speeding offences continues to rise, prosecution for careless driving has fallen by over seven per cent and the number of motorists caught for driving defective cars has plummeted by more than a third. Recent estimates also reckon that well over one million drivers in the country have no insurance or tax while the number of drink drivers detected has risen recently following a period of stability.
Steve Sutcliffe, Editor of Autocar commented: "It is no co-incidence that the motoring underclass is developing at the same rate as the spread of speed cameras. This concentration on remote enforcement methods is often at the cost of live policing. The criminals know that as long as they stick to the speed limits they likely to get away with it."
Last week RAC Foundation and Autocar launched a joint campaign: "Talking Sense on Speed" which aims to send drivers back to school rather than fine them and get them off the road.
The campaign aims to get an increase in the number of Speed Awareness courses offered to motorists in lieu of three penalty points and has been presented to Government and Police in a bid to gain their support.
Instead of receiving fixed penalty notices from speed cameras, offending motorists would attend a course - paid for by the driver as an alternative to points.
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