Eight out of ten drivers think it is acceptable to speed, a survey has revealed.
Research by the West Yorkshire Casualty Red-uction Partnership found that 80 per cent of motorists it quizzed believed that it was all right to ignore speed limits and drive at the speed they think is appropriate.
The survey, conducted last month on the partnership's website, asked 3,000 drivers if they thought there were ever circumstances when it was acceptable to break speed laws.
Ten per cent of respondents from West Yorkshire said it was acceptable to speed on motorways, two per cent said it was appropriate to speed late at night and 80 per cent, or 2,661 of those surveyed, answered yes, that as an experienced driver it was all right to drive at the speed they considered safe, regardless of the speed limit.
Only seven respondents said it was never acceptable to speed.
Steve Thornton, chairman of the West Yorkshire Casualty Reduction Partnership, said the results of the survey explained why speeding remains the single biggest cause of crashes causing death and serious injury on our roads.
"Drivers who choose to exceed the speed limit are just selfish and need to be more considerate of other road users," said Mr Thornton. "They are knowingly putting themselves and everyone around them on the road in harm's way."
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Speeding is illegal and where officers see someone breaking the law by speeding, motorists can expect to face a fine and points on their licence.
"Speeding motorists can make the consequences of accidents more serious and due to travelling at illegal high speeds, are also often unable to react in time to avoid accidents."
He urged motorists to cut their speed, particularly at this time of year.
Philip Gwynne, of the West Yorkshire Casualty Reduction Partnership, said he was not surprised by the results. He said: "You only have to look at the roads to see the speeds that people travel at and see that a large number of people quietly ignore the speed limits or just don't even recognise what the speed limits are.
"Now some of these are doing it on purpose, although these are only a small minority, the vast majority of people break the speed limit laws by accident."
The Telegraph & Argus Be Safe Not Sorry campaign is urging motorists to drive sensibly to reduce the numbers of deaths and injuries on the district's roads.
e-mail: jennifer.sugden@bradford.newsquest.co.uk
WHAT YOU THINK
Alan Walker, 53, teacher, of Yorkshire: "I think on motorways, where traffic is light, the speed limit should be extended."
Gordon Barden, 48, lorry driver, of Lancashire: "It depends on the road conditions. If it's raining, it's not OK but in better weather it is."
Andrew Jagger, 32, manager, of Huddersfield: "I think the only circumstance where speed is OK is on the motorway."
Linda Barden, 46, cashier, of Lancashire: "Excess speed is not OK. Speed kills. It doesn't matter what situation you are in."
Daniel Abbasian, 23, self-employed, of Stockport: "On motorways you should be allowed to put your foot down."
Richard Yates, 35, sales manager, Lancashire: "There are times when excess speed is OK, particularly on the motorway."
Click on the logo below to submit your pledge
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article