Speeding in 30mph zones falls

• DfT releases statistics from 2006
• Distance driven increases again
• Motorways are absorbing increased mileage

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Motorists are increasingly sticking to 30mph speed limits, according to road statistics released for 2006.

The survey reports that in 1996, three-quarters of cars broke the 30mph speed limit, but last year the figure had fallen to half.

Department of Transport (DfT) research shows that a pedestrian hit at 30mph has an 80% chance of survival.

This falls to a 50% chance of survival if hit at 35mph and 10% at 40mph.

We've listed some of the DfT's other statistics related to traffic, speed and congestion below:

More traffic statistics
• Between 2005 and 2006, estimated traffic levels rose by seven billion vehicle kilometres (1.4%) to 506 billion vehicle kilometres. This is the first year that total estimated traffic in Great Britain has exceeded 500 billion vehicle kilometres.

• Car traffic accounted for 79% of all motor vehicle traffic. Car traffic has increased by 1.3% over the past year, 12% since 1996 and 851% since 1955.

• In 2006, 28% of all traffic was on rural A-roads, 22% was on urban minor roads, 20% on motorways, 16% on urban A-roads and 14% on rural minor roads.

• Traffic on motorways has grown faster (27%) over the last 10 years than on any other road type. Urban A-roads have shown the slowest traffic growth since 1996, increasing by only 2% over this time.

• The average free-flow speed of cars in 2006 on 40mph roads was 36mph and on roads with a 30mph limit the average speed was 30 mph.

• The average journey time on the slowest 10% of journeys rose from 13.4 minutes to 13.7 minutes per 10 miles, an increase of 2.5%.

• During the morning peak, the average vehicle delay on the slowest 10% of journeys generally declined as the week progressed. The opposite effect occurred for the evening peak.

• The highest evening peak delays on weekdays for the slowest 10% of journeys occurred on Fridays. By 14:00 on Fridays, congestion is at about the same level as in the morning peak on Wednesdays.

• The average traffic speed across the major road network of the largest 18 urban areas in England in 2006, excluding London, was 17.8mph during the peak periods and 21.6mph during off-peak periods.

• Peak speed across all these areas in 2006 was virtually unchanged from 2004. Average off-peak speed fell from 25.2mph in 2004 to 24.1mph in 2006, a fall of 4%.

• Of the 18 largest urban areas in England, excluding London, average peak speeds were lowest in Leicester, Bristol and Southampton. Off-peak speeds were also low in Leicester and Bristol, with Blackpool also having a relatively low average off-peak speed.