Selfish drivers doing 164mph must stop, police say

UK police have recorded drivers traveling at speeds of up to 164 mph (264 km/h) on roads, with police warning people to stop this selfish behavior and recognize that speeding can be fatal. Police data shows that between 2019 and 2023, over 24,000 vehicles were caught by cameras traveling at speeds exceeding 100 mph (161 km/h).

A car was found traveling at 164 mph on the M25 motorway in Kent and another in the Manchester area. Additionally, cars were detected traveling at 163 mph in London and Humberside. Kent Police’s head of roads policing, Chief Inspector Craig West, stated that the consequences of high-speed collisions can be "devastating" for families and friends. The BBC sent a Freedom of Information request to police forces asking for the highest speeds recorded over the past five years.

Of the 45 police forces contacted, 27 were able to provide data to the BBC. Greater Manchester Police stated that the driver recorded traveling at 164 mph on the M62 motorway in 2023 was using cloned number plates. Kent Police confirmed they were unable to trace the driver of a Seat Leon traveling at the same speed on the M25 in Swanley in 2022. In both cases, the speeds were more than double the motorway limit of 70 mph (113 km/h).

Meanwhile, a Porsche driver was banned from driving for six months for traveling at 163 mph on the M1 motorway in north London during the early days of the Covid pandemic. Another driver in Humberside traveling at the same speed was disqualified for four months and fined £950. South Yorkshire Police said a driver found traveling at 162 mph in 2019 was given six points and fined £1,210. Chief Inspector Craig West said: "Speeding does kill. People need to slow down and not drive at the maximum speed limit."

Chief Inspector West told the BBC: "It's devastating for the families and friends of the victims and for police officers. It does have a lasting impact on so many people, which is why it's so important to get this message across to the small minority of selfish drivers who continue to speed." Gilly Slorpe, from West Sussex, whose son Callum Chapman died in December 2020 after the car he was in crashed into a tree on the A24 near Southwater while speeding, has called for increased enforcement. Ms. Slorpe said the vehicle was traveling at up to 103 mph at the time. "The driver walked out virtually unscathed, but Callum didn't last very long. It just breaks my heart," she said, "It feels like Callum's death was in vain and nothing has changed, and people are still speeding." Ms. Slorpe believes "there aren't enough police, cameras, or car technology – something has to be done."

The driver admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to three years in prison and banned from driving for four and a half years. The court heard that he was racing another car at the time. The driver of the other car admitted dangerous driving and was sentenced to six months in prison and banned from driving for 21 months. In 2023, Department for Transport (DfT) data showed that driver speeding was a contributory factor in road crashes that resulted in 314 deaths on UK roads. This is the highest level for at least 10 years. Sussex Police Chief Constable Jo Shiner, the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for roads policing, said every death was "one too many." "Nearly 3,000 people are killed or seriously injured on our roads every year due to speeding. For every one of those, there are many friends, families, and communities impacted, so the true impact is almost immeasurable," Ms. Shiner said, "Speeding is a conscious decision."

The Sentencing Council says the maximum fine for speeding is £1,000, unless the offense was recorded on a motorway, in which case it is £2,500. Road traffic lawyer David Sonn said drivers caught speeding at over 100 mph face a significant risk of being disqualified from driving. He has represented a driver caught traveling at 163 mph. He said: "If there are no other aggravating features, a relatively clean driving record, and it's only just over 100 mph, in my experience, you're likely to avoid a disqualification." He said a ban was "almost inevitable" for drivers traveling at over 110 mph, which "depends on the circumstances" and could trigger a dangerous driving prosecution. "That could result in a maximum of two years' imprisonment and will lead to a mandatory minimum of a year's disqualification, and you would have to pass an extended driving test to get back on the road."

Shaun Helman, chief scientist in behavioral science at the Transport Research Laboratory in Berkshire, said: "Many new cars now come with intelligent speed assistance technology. If the car is speeding, it can warn the driver, and in some systems, it can also intervene and gradually reduce the speed to the speed limit." Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: "Eight out of ten new cars are fitted with driver assistance systems, such as advanced emergency braking." He said the technology has reduced rear-end collisions by 38%. "However, ultimately, drivers must drive responsibly because, while technology can help reduce the risk of accidents, unfortunately, human error is still the cause of the majority of crashes," he added. A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "There is no excuse for those who endanger the lives of others by speeding. We will continue to assess how drivers can benefit from the latest technology, ensuring journeys are safe, reliable, and reduce emissions."