New police data has revealed that drivers have been repeatedly clocked at speeds exceeding 120mph on West Midlands motorways over the past 12 months. The top 10 highest speeds recorded by West Midlands Police have all occurred on motorways, with the M6 dominating the list.
According to information obtained through a Freedom of Information request submitted by BirminghamLive, the fastest recorded speed was 137mph on the M6 northbound between Junction 4, Coleshill, and Junction 9, Wednesbury. This stretch also saw speeds of 134mph, 133mph, and 126mph.
M6 accounts for six of the top 10 speeds
The M6 featured in six of the top 10 spots, including the three highest speeds. All listed offences surpassed 120mph, with the M42 appearing twice and the M5 also appearing twice in the data.
On the M42, drivers were caught at 131mph each time on the northbound carriageway between Junction 3a, Umberslade Interchange, and Junction 5, Copt Hill. The M5 saw high-speed drivers near Junction 1, West Bromwich, and between Junction 3, Quinton, and Junction 2, Oldbury.
Data obtained via Freedom of Information request
The data was provided by West Midlands Police, covering speeds recorded by speed cameras or police officers across the force area. It remains unclear what punishments were handed out to the drivers involved.
BirminghamLive submitted the Freedom of Information request to obtain the data, which highlights the extent of excessive speeding on the region's motorways. The information has been released to raise awareness of the dangers of speeding.
Impact on road safety
Speeding at such high rates significantly increases the risk of serious collisions and fatalities. The data serves as a reminder to motorists of the importance of adhering to speed limits.
West Midlands Police have not provided details on any subsequent enforcement actions, but the release of this data underscores ongoing efforts to address dangerous driving on the region's roads.
