Skip to main content

IAM’s FOI reveals England and Wales’ worst speeding offenders

A motorist travelling at 149mph (239.8kph) on the M25 at Swanley, Kent, south-east England, holds the record for the highest speed clocked by a speed camera in England and Wales between April 2013 and May 2014. The astonishing figure was revealed following Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to 39 police authorities by the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists). Other shocking figures from the 85% of police authorities that responded to the FOI request revealed that the highest speed recorded on a 30mph
May 28, 2014 Read time: 3 mins
A motorist travelling at 149mph (239.8kph) on the M25 at Swanley, Kent, south-east England, holds the record for the highest speed clocked by a speed camera in England and Wales between April 2013 and May 2014.

The astonishing figure was revealed following Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to 39 police authorities by the IAM (5125 Institute of Advanced Motorists).

Other shocking figures from the 85% of police authorities that responded to the FOI request revealed that the highest speed recorded on a 30mph (48.28kph) road during the analysed period was 96mph (154.49kph) on the B1288, on Leam Lane, Gateshead, north-east England. The highest speed recorded on a 50mph (80.46kph) road was on the A414 Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire, south-east England, where a motorist clocked 119mph (191.51kph). Meanwhile, the highest speed recorded on a 60mph (96.56kph) road was 127mph (204.38kph) on the A413 Wendover By-Pass, Wendover, Buckinghamshire, south-east England.

IAM chief executive Simon Best said, “One hundred and forty nine miles per hour equates to nearly two and a half miles in a minute.  If anything goes wrong at that speed, you’re unlikely to walk away and you are a grave danger to the innocent road users around you.”

“Speed limits are a limit. They are not a target to beat. Unfortunately this message has not got through to many motorists, and it’s clear that efforts to make speeding as socially unacceptable as drink driving continue to fail.  That’s why we need sustained campaigning by the government, motor industry and charities to keep ramming home the message that excessive speed kills.  Catching speeders at two or even three times the limit also shows the importance of keeping speed cameras at well-known black spots.”

The guidelines to magistrates in England and Wales on sentencing for speeding include issuing a fine plus 6 points or disqualification from driving for 7-56 days if convicted of driving between 101-110mph (162.54kph-177.02kph) on a 70mph (112.65kph) road; of driving at 76-85mph (122.31-136.79kph) on a 50mph (80.46kph) road; or of driving at 51-60mph (82.07-96.56kph) on a 30mph (48.28kph) road.

Best added, “The current guidelines on sentencing for excessive speeding offences are out of sync with modern roads, modern vehicles and society’s view of the value of lives lost in crashes.  We all share the roads with these speeding drivers and the government must crack down on them with more consistent penalties and tougher measures to break their addiction for speed.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Variable message signs emerging from the shadows
    July 8, 2016
    Variable message signs are increasingly seen on the world’s motorways. World Highways looks at some of the latest developments UK manufacturer of temporary, solar powered variable message signs, Bartco UK, has unveiled what it says is the first temporary VMS designed for use within work zones. Bartco said that its HD Quattro was developed in response to feedback from customers requiring a product to affirm on-site speed limits for work zone vehicles. The unit is designed to show limited amounts of inform
  • EU road fatalities dip 1% for 2018 but 2020 target slips away
    April 15, 2019
    The number of fatalities on European Union roads dipped by 1% last year, according to preliminary figures published today by the European Commission. In 2018, there were around 25,100 road accident fatalities within the 28 EU member countries. This is a decrease of 21% compared to 2010. With an average of 49 road deaths per one million inhabitants, this confirms that European roads are by far the safest in the world, noted the Commission. But there is remains doubt that the EU target of halving the nu
  • €2.27bn UK road investment in 2014 to support over 9,500 construction jobs
    November 11, 2013
    Over 9,500 construction jobs will be supported in 2014 by more than €2.27 billion (£1.9 billion) of investment in Britain’s roads, Transport Minister Robert Goodwill announced today. The total investment in 209 schemes is €5.15 billion (£4.3 billion), with the €2.27 billion to be spent in 2014 more than twice the amount being spent this year. Due to either start or be completed in 2014, these road programmes are estimated to boost the economy by over €22.52 billion (£18.8 billion) and are part of a €119.8
  • UK M6 motorway project complete
    December 20, 2024
    Work for the UK’s M6 motorway upgrade project is complete.