Drivers speeding at more than 90mph on 30mph roads were caught by nearly half (48%) of UK police forces over a year and a half.
The RAC, which obtained the figures, said they demonstrate “incredibly dangerous actions” by motorists.
The highest recorded speed on 30mph roads was 122mph in the South Yorkshire Police area, while for 20mph roads the top speed was 88mph, logged by North Wales Police.
The fastest speed detected on any road was 167mph on a 70mph stretch of the M1 motorway by Leicestershire Police.
The figures were obtained through Freedom of Information requests to 45 police forces for the period from the start of January 2023 to the end of August 2024 – 40 forces provided data.
Some 311 people died in crashes on Britain’s roads in 2023 in which a driver exceeding the speed limit was a contributory factor, according to separate Department for Transport (DfT) statistics.
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The figure was at least a 10-year-high and represented 21% of all road fatalities.
Last year the RAC carried out a survey which indicated 55% of drivers believe there is a culture among UK road users that it is acceptable to speed, with only 23% disagreeing with that assertion.
The RAC called on the government to use its forthcoming road safety strategy to tackle “avoidable casualties” in crashes involving speeding drivers.
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Speed is leading cause of deaths on UK roads
RAC road safety spokesman Rod Dennis said: “Although this data is a snapshot, it shines a light on the incredibly dangerous actions of a few, that are putting law-abiding road users at serious risk. Thankfully, the police were on hand to catch these drivers.
“There is no place for the vastly excessive speeds that some people are prepared to drive.
“Speed is the leading cause of deaths on UK roads.
“We look forward to the government’s forthcoming road safety strategy understanding what can be done to reduce such avoidable casualties on the UK’s roads.”
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‘Reckless, selfish and completely unacceptable’
Chief Constable Jo Shiner, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for roads policing, said: “We know that some incidents of going over the speed limit can be genuine mistakes or errors, but the speeds cited here are clearly drivers taking deliberate decisions to travel at excessive speeds, putting everyone at risk.
“Speed limits are set based on many factors, including the road layout, what’s in the surrounding area and taking into account where there might be more vulnerable road users.
“Choosing to drive above those limits is reckless, selfish and completely unacceptable.”
