Vehicle speeds have been identified as a contributory factor to the severity of road traffic crashes
(Perez et al., 2007; World Health Organisation [WHO], 2013). Considering that car manufacturers
are consistently portraying speed as a key performance feature or a higher standard of sporting
performance, it is important to establish the true worth of speed to drivers and how vehicle speeds
can be managed effectively if road crash deaths are to be reduced. This paper presents the findings
of an online questionnaire conducted in the United Kingdom (UK) to ascertain the opinion about six
selected roadside speed control devices. These speed control devices comprised two main
categories; punitive (example; speed camera) and non-punitive (example; ‘Bend Ahead’ flashing
sign) devices. In total 502 respondents were obtained from drivers and/or motorcyclists, 52% of
whom were male. There were 76.1% of drivers who had more than ten years of driving experience
and 32.9% who had never had a crash as a driver. The results indicate that drivers are
knowledgeable about the purpose of the speed control devices. More people indicated that speed
cameras had an influence on their driving speed than the vehicle activated signs which is
understandable considering that speed cameras have punitive consequences. In general,
respondents expressed positive views about the speed control devices. Other findings about the
speed control devices are presented in this paper
