Speeding drivers warned
A DRIVER in the West Midlands was clocked speeding at 108mph during the coronavirus lockdown.
The motorist is among speeding drivers who have led road safety campaigners to warn that those taking advantage of empty roads are causing death and serious injury.
In total, West Midlands Police recorded 1,434 drivers speeding between March 23, 2020 and April 30. The fastest speed registered during the period was 108mph in a 70mph limit on the M5 between junctions 3 and 4.
The incident has been disclosed by the force after reports that speeding motorists across the UK have been using the sharp fall in traffic as an excuse to drive at excessive speeds. They include a driver clocked at 134mph in a 40mph limit in London and another recorded doing 115mph on a 40mph road in Greater Manchester.
Two road safety groups reacting to reports from the police and public have warned that while the level of traffic has dropped, a minority of people are tearing along empty roads.
In a joint press release, Brake and Cycling UK warned: “Tragically, in some cases, this behaviour has already led to fatalities and serious injury to people walking, cycling and horse-riding.”
Joshua Harris, director of campaigns at Brake, said: “Breaking the speed limit is dangerous, selfish and never acceptable.
With driving limited to essential journeys we would hope to see speeding decrease but sadly the opposite appears to be true.
“We implore all drivers to always keep well within speed limits and to be extra vigilant as people use local roads for their daily exercise. We particularly urge drivers to slow down on rural roads, some of which have 60mph speed limits and dangerous blind-bends that can hide people walking or cycling ahead. Every crash impacts lives and increases the burden on our stretched emergency services and NHS.”
Keir Gallagher, Cycling UK campaigns manager added: “Over the past weeks one of the few positives has been seeing families and individuals discovering the joys of riding or walking on largely empty rural lanes and roads.
“However, Cycling UK is receiving regular reports of a minority of people driving way too fast. While reports of collisions are few, with so many families venturing out for their daily exercise especially on narrow rural roads, the consequences of dangerous driving now more than ever is a burden our NHS can ill afford.
“Cycling UK would appeal to drivers to give plenty of space when overtaking walkers, cyclists and horse riders and slow down as you never know who could be just around the corner.”