NEARLY one-quarter of van drivers stopped in routine speed checks said they were running late, 41% claimed they didn't realise they were breaking the limit, while 13% said they didn't even know what the limit was.

A report by Brake and Direct Line Insurance entitled 'Slow Down: excuses drivers give for speeding and how to slow them down' has been published today to coincide with the first hearing of the Transport, Local Government and the Regions Select Committee inquiry into speed. The report's key findings include:

The majority of drivers regularly break speed limits

Speeding drivers are most likely to say they do not know what the speed limit is in 40mph zones;

Three-quarters of drivers caught speeding are men and one-quarter are women. Male drivers are more likely than female drivers to admit that they knew they were speeding.