New research has identified Rutland as the area in England with the fastest drivers, according to a study by car parts marketplace Ovoko.
The study analysed data from the National Highways National Traffic Information Service, which tracked average speeds on all ‘A’ roads across England between 2019 and 2023. The findings reveal that Rutland leads with an average speed of 38.64 miles per hour, making it the fastest-driving region in the country. The A47 in Rutland was noted for having the highest average speed, at 46.1 miles per hour.
Halton, located in Cheshire, follows closely in second place with an average speed of 36.1 miles per hour. The A557 in Halton was recorded as the fastest ‘A’ road, averaging 37.5 miles per hour.
Telford and Wrekin secured third place with an average speed of 35.62 miles per hour. Within this area, the A41 was identified as the road with the highest average speed, reaching 40.5 miles per hour.
Peterborough ranked fourth with an average speed of 35.42 miles per hour. The A1139 in Peterborough was found to be the fastest road, boasting an average speed of 46 miles per hour.
East Riding of Yorkshire completes the top five with an average speed of 34.76 miles per hour. The A63 in this area had the highest recorded average speed at 44.2 miles per hour.
In contrast, the City of London was reported as having the slowest drivers, with an average speed of just 7.8 miles per hour on ‘A’ roads.
Other regions in the top ten include Lincolnshire (34.44 mph), Milton Keynes (34.40 mph), Shropshire (33.98 mph), Dorset (33.54 mph), and Redcar and Cleveland (33.42 mph).
Areas in England with the fastest drivers
| Rank | Country/Region/Local Authority | Average ‘A’ road speed 2019-2023 (MPH) |
| 1 | Rutland | 38.64 |
| 2 | Halton | 36.10 |
| 3 | Telford and Wrekin | 35.62 |
| 4 | Peterborough | 35.42 |
| 5 | East Riding of Yorkshire | 34.76 |
| 6 | Lincolnshire | 34.44 |
| 7 | Milton Keynes | 34.40 |
| 8 | Shropshire | 33.98 |
| 9 | Dorset | 33.54 |
| 10 | Redcar and Cleveland | 33.42 |
A spokesperson for Ovoko commented on the findings, saying, “The variation between more rural areas and built-up urban centres in this list highlights the diversity of England’s roads. While this data represents an average across all ‘A’ roads, the differences in speed on roads with similar speed limits underscore the risks associated with higher driving speeds.”
For more information, visit Ovoko’s website.