Speed is a major cause of road crashes. The faster you drive a car the longer it will take you to stop. If you don’t stop in time then you were travelling too fast. The faster you hit something, the greater the effect of the impact.

If you're driving at 35mph you're twice as likely to kill someone as you're at 30mph.

Speed limits
A speed limit is the maximum speed you can drive at, however you have to use your common sense as the speed limit isn't always the safe speed.

Driving too fast doesn’t always mean going over the speed limit. It can mean driving at a speed that's not safe for the road conditions.

For example, driving at 30mph along a busy shopping street with lots of people around is too fast.

Because of this problem, the 20mph limit is being used more and more in built up areas, especially around schools and on residential streets.

Here's a guide to the different speed limits:

Built up areas

• Cars: 30mph
• Buses: 30mph
• Goods Vehicles (7.5 tonnes+): 30mph

Single carriageways

• Cars: 60mph
• Buses: 50mph
• Goods Vehicles (7.5tonnes+): 40mph

Dual carriageways

• Cars: 70mph
• Buses: 60mph
• Goods Vehicles (7.5tonnes+): 50mph

Motorways

• Cars: 70mph
• Buses: 70mph
• Goods Vehicles (7.5tonnes+): 60mph

The 2 second rule
Leaving a safe gap between you and the vehicle in front is called 'the 2 second rule'.

How to check there's a 2 second gap between you and the car in front:
1. Note a roadside feature as the vehicle in front passes it.

2. Count how many seconds pass before you reach the same feature or say the words "only a fool breaks the two second rule".

3. If it's less than 2 seconds you are too close.

Penalties
These depend on the seriousness of the offence. The majority of speeding offences result in a £60 fine and 3 penalty points. Fines of up to £2500 however are possible along with disqualification for the more extreme cases.