DRIVERS need to be given more education about the dangers of speeding, according to road safety organisation Brake. A study by the organisation found that drivers who break speed limits overestimate their driving ability and put factors such as quickly getting to a meeting ahead of safety. Few realise how dramatically speeding increases the chances of road deaths.

Brake interviewed speeders stopped by six police forces around the country. Three-quarters described themselves as good to excellent drivers and none considered themselves poor drivers. Most were unaware of how dramatically speed influenced whether someone was killed or injured in an accident.

Brake interviewed 48 people stopped for speeding, 43 on urban roads and five on motorways or dual-carriageways. The slowest had been travelling at 37mph in a 30mph limit, while the fastest was driving at 122mph in a 70mph zone. It found that, although 85% of the drivers had received no tuition since passing their driving tests, 10.5% thought they were excellent drivers, 66.5% good and 23% adequate.