Lead-foot drivers linked to other crime

Lead-foot drivers are significantly more likely to commit drug and property offences than speed limit abiding motorists, a new study shows.

The Queensland University of Technology study has investigated criminal histories, personal characteristics, traffic offences and crash history of high-range speeding offenders to draw its conclusions.

Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland researcher Dr Judy Fleiter said the study found 55 per cent of repeat high-range speeding offenders - those who were caught exceeding the speed limit by more than 30km/h - have a criminal history.

"(They) were significantly more likely to have committed drug and property offences compared to all other drivers caught speeding," Dr Fleiter said.

"These results highlight that for some drivers, if they break the law behind the wheel they are also likely to break the law when not behind the wheel," she said.

It also found repeat high-range offenders were significantly more likely to be young men on provisional licences or on a motorcycle licence.

They were also more than five times as likely to be involved in a crash as low-range offenders.

Dr Fleiter said the study highlighted the need to look for innovative ways to target high-range speeding offenders, who might not be deterred by fines.

"For example, the use of new in-vehicle technologies such as Intelligent Speed Adaptation that notifies drivers when they are over the speed limit or could restrict drivers from exceeding the speed limit may prove useful," she said.