Car passengers often uncomfortable with speeds driven by friends and family, says TfL report

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Car passengers often feel uncomfortable with the speeds driven by friends or family members and many are quietly hiding their concerns, Transport for London (TfL) revealed today.

The new research, carried out by YouGov, showed that of 524 people who have travelled as a passenger in a friend or family member's car at least once a month, 61% felt uncomfortable about the speed they were driven.

Also 29% felt uncomfortable telling a friend or family member to slow down. This worrying statistic suggests that many drivers may be driving in London unaware that they are driving at an unsafe speed and that their passengers feel uncomfortable about this.

103 people have tragically died on London's roads already this year and analysis by TfL of historical casualty figures recorded by the Police suggests that speed accounts for 37% of all deaths and serious injuries.

Collision data from around the world is very clear. It shows that the faster a vehicle is travelling; the more likely a collision will occur because the driver has less time to react, stop or avoid the collision; and the more severe an injury resulting from the collision will be.

While many people driving may feel they are driving safely by adhering to speed limits, their speed may be considered unsafe due to other factors, such as being near to a school, a busy location with many other road users, weather conditions, turning at a junction or driving over or through speed restrictions too quickly.

Stuart Reid, TfL's Director of Vision Zero said: “People are seriously injured or die on our roads each day. It seems that driving at an unsafe speed has now sadly become socially acceptable and many people simply don't think of it as a risk.

“Nobody gets behind the wheel intending to kill or harm someone but all too often, the way people choose to drive results in death or serious injury.

“This has devastating consequences for the victim, the driver and their families.  I would urge drivers to slow down and also encourage people who feel uncomfortable with the speed they're being driven at to speak up.

“Human life is so precious and we are committed to working to reduce this suffering but we all have a part to play. Through our wider Vision Zero programme we are targeting the root causes or road casualties.

“By doing so, we can make London's roads safer and achieve our goal that, by 2041, all deaths and serious injuries will be eliminated from London's transport network.”