Exclusive figures reveal that more than 2,500 drivers have been caught speeding at over 70mph on motorways and main roads across the West Midlands in recent months. The motorists were captured exceeding the UK's national speed limit of 70mph on motorways.
Speeding Data Revealed
The details emerged following a freedom of information request to West Midlands Police, covering the period from October to the end of April. The data highlights extreme and dangerous driving, with three drivers recorded at over 130mph, the fastest speeds during that timeframe. Another seven were clocked between 120 and 130mph, and a total of 42 vehicles were spotted doing over 100mph. Additionally, 173 drivers were caught between 90 and 99mph, with most incidents likely occurring on motorways.
Widespread Ignorance of Speed Limit
The data also shows how regularly the 70mph national speed limit is ignored. A huge 1,395 drivers were caught by cameras or police officers doing 80-89mph, and another 1,321 between 70 and 79mph. Once a driver exceeds 70mph, they are over the motorway national speed limit, though temporary lower limits may apply during congestion or incidents.
Motorists are most commonly caught speeding on 30mph roads, with a whopping 68,000 clocked between 30 and 39mph. Overall, nearly 110,000 speeding motorists were recorded during the period, though not all resulted in tickets. Previous investigations have shown many speeding cases are cancelled for various reasons, and enforcement varies by region, with Warwickshire issuing more tickets than the West Midlands despite a lower population.
