Drivers who are caught speeding at more than 100mph should receive automatic bans, road safety charity Brake has said.
Statistics published by Brake show that 9,596 motorists were caught travelling at more than 100mph on UK roads in 2018.
The figures, obtained via Freedom of Information requests to UK police forces, show the highest speed recorded last year was 162mph – on two occasions.
West Yorkshire Police recorded the most offences (2,252); followed by Kent (1,323), West Mercia (1,114) and Surrey (1,016).
As a result, Brake is calling for automatic driving bans for those caught speeding at more than 100mph – and greater resources for police to improve enforcement.
At present, drivers caught speeding at more than 100mph are referred to court, where magistrates have the discretion to issue a driving ban or six penalty points.
Joshua Harris, director of campaigns for Brake, said: “There is absolutely no justification for any driver to be travelling at such excessive speeds – more than twice the national speed limit in some cases – putting themselves and others in grave danger.
“The number of drivers caught speeding at over 100mph highlights some deeply concerning issues with speeding across the country and makes clear the need for action.
“Anyone caught travelling at such speed should always face a ban – we have to make sure these dangerous, selfish drivers are taken off our roads.
“The Government must invest in national roads policing as a priority to provide the police with the resources they need to get out on the roads and act as a true deterrent to dangerous driving.
“The law must also be used to its fullest extent in penalising such dangerous behaviour, making it clear that speeding will not be tolerated.”
It’s a pity we don’t get to know what the outcome was for the individual offences highlighted i.e. was it an outright ban, penalty points.. or an eventual crash possibly.
Hugh Jones
--5
No Brake they shouldn’t change the law. The Courts are still the right place for such decisions.
Pat, Wales
+7