Hundreds of drivers caught hitting 100mph in West Midlands and Staffordshire
Hundreds of drivers were caught at speeds of more than 100mph in the West Midlands and Staffordshire over the last two years - with one of the fastest hitting 150mph.
Road safety charity Brake has called on the Government to increase funding for road policing – and wants to see drivers automatically banned if they are caught travelling at 100mph or more.
Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request to Staffordshire Police show that 263 drivers were recording at speeds of 100 mph or more last year and 209 in 2017.
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In 2018, the highest speed recorded was 150mph on the M6 Toll northbound, between terminals five and six.
While a request to West Midlands Police showed that 94 drivers were recorded at speeds of 100mph or more in 2018 and 56 in 2017.
Last year, the fastest speed the force recorded was 149mph on the M5, between junctions one and two.
If drivers are caught speeding at more than 100mph they can be taken to court where they could receive a driving ban, a fine or six penalty points on their licence.
'Catastrophic'
Inspector Sion Hathaway, from Central Motorway Policing Group, said: "Speeding is a serious offence and if something goes wrong, the consequences can be catastrophic.
“Speeding can vary from receiving three points on a licence to disqualified from driving or even jail.
“I would urge drivers to think twice.”
Staffordshire Police has recently launched its new roads policing plan – Operation Lightning – which will see regular operations taking place that will work to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on the roads.
The operation is also aimed at disrupting and deterring criminals use of the road network.
A new unit – the Roads Policing Unit – has also recently been set up and is aimed at tackling crime and speeders.
Nationally, the highest speeds recorded by police were in South Yorkshire and Avon and Somerset – 162 mph in each case.
Joshua Harris, director of campaigns for Brake, added: “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.
"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."
