Nine out of 10 (88%) company car drivers admit to speeding on motorways, according to new research from RAC Business, which represents a 7% increase on figures from last year.
In fact almost half (48%) of company car drivers surveyed admitted breaking the speed limit on motorways on most journeys, compared to 26% of private motorists.
The findings form part of the RAC’s Report on Motoring 2016, in which just over half (51%) of company car drivers said they typically travelled at 80 mph on motorways and 7% at 90 mph. That is also an increase on 2015 figures when 46% confessed to driving at 80 mph and 5% at 90 mph.
What’s more, 60% of company car drivers think it is totally acceptable to travel at 80 mph on motorways and a third (31%) think the current speed limit is inappropriate for the road. In line with that nearly three quarters (71%) believe the motorway speed limit should be increased to 80 mph.
However, the compulsion to speed is not as widespread on more high risk routes such as country roads with numerous bends where only 5% travelled at more than 60 mph, or in 20 mph urban area zones where two thirds of company car drivers kept within the limits.
Jenny Powley, corporate business sales director at RAC Business, said: “Knowingly breaking the speed limit is a dangerous approach to driving, whether you think you can justify it or not, and the risks associated with speeding far outweigh the time saved. After all, driving at 80 mph instead of 70 mph will only save six seconds a mile, or 10 minutes over 100 miles.”