The research, carried out by car insurer RAC using Freedom of Information requests to police forces, found that 161mph was the top speed recorded on UK roads last year. That speed was recorded on our local stretch of the M6, as well as on the A5 in Bayston Hill, Shropshire.
Speeding near schools and in residential areas
The study also highlighted some alarming cases elsewhere in the country:
- A driver was caught doing 89mph in a 20mph zone on the B5129 in Deeside, North Wales
- Another was clocked at 114mph on a 30mph road near a primary school in Aylestone, Leicestershire
RAC's senior policy officer Rod Dennis said the speeds were "frankly chilling" and warned that these were only the cases police were actually aware of. He added that speeds recorded near schools and in residential areas during daytime hours showed just how dangerous the behaviour was.
Thousands caught breaking speed limits
The figures make for sobering reading across the board:
- More than 30,000 drivers were caught doing 30mph or more in 20mph zones
- Across 33 police force areas, 271,341 motorists were caught driving at 40mph or more on 30mph roads
The government said there was "no excuse" for speeding, and confirmed that its road safety strategy includes plans to fit all new cars with systems that warn drivers when they exceed the speed limit.
Source: bbc.co.uk
