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Worst speeding offences occur on A-roads

It seems motorway speeding has taken a back seat. The fastest speeding offences of the last three years have occurred on Britain’s A-roads, according to police figures. Of the 15 worst speeding offences clocked by the boys in luminous green, nine occurred on A-roads.

According to new figures, most speeding tends to occur on A-roads.
According to new figures the worst speeding offences tend to occur on A-roads.

The research, compiled by insurance firm LV, show Binstead, West Sussex’s A27 to be Britain’s fastest road, with a motorcyclist clocked at travelling at 152mph back in 2011. The A90 Dundee to Aberdeen saw the second worst offence. One driver was caught on this road travelling at 149mph. Another driver in the list was also caught by Tayside Police at 141mph on the same stretch.

A number of motorway drivers also found the limit of 70mph too restrictive. Thames Valley Police caught one speeder travelling at 142mph on the M4 last year.

Why might we be seeing more speeding on A-roads? For one thing, average speed cameras ensure you can only crawl along at 50mph on certain parts of motorways and there’s usually much more traffic to contend with, particularly around busy areas like London.

It also indicates the A27 and other roads around Sussex must be remarkably empty at certain times of the day, because we can’t seem to drive anywhere without encountering other road users, speed bumps or traffic lights.

LV managing director, John O’Roarke was quick to warn of the dangers of speeding: “There is a significant difference between those drivers who are a few miles over the limit and those who are driving dangerously at breakneck speeds,” he said. “Driving at such high speeds is very dangerous and dramatically increases the chance of failing to react quick enough in an emergency.”

AA president Edmund King weighed in, reminding us that being caught at suchs speeds will lead to “lengthy driving bans, high fines (up to £2,500), increased insurance and possible prison sentences.”

If you think 152mph is going some, according to Giz Mag, the UK’s worst 4-wheel offender managed to take a borrowed 3.6-litre Porsche 911 Turbo up to 172mph in 2007. The driver, Tim Brady, was booked on the spot and subsequently given a ten-week jail sentence.

Daniel Nicks and his Honda Fireblade holds the UK’s official record. He was caught speeding at 175mph back in 2000. We can only assume the police were not best pleased.

Do you think speed limits should stay as they are or be increased? Let us know in the comments below.

Image: Sidelong

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