Speeding drivers have 'no excuse' for risking lives

A police force has warned drivers not to speed on any road after figures revealed 150 people were caught exceeding 100mph in Norfolk over the course of a year.

The BBC sent Freedom of Information requests to territorial police forces across the UK regarding drivers travelling at extreme speeds.

In 2023, the fastest vehicle caught by police on Norfolk's roads was a Suzuki GSXR found to be travelling at 152mph on the A47 at Terrington St John.

Department for Transport (DfT) data covering Great Britain showed 314 people died in crashes that year where a driver exceeding the speed limit was a contributory factor.

The DfT said speeding drivers had "no excuse" for risking the lives of others.

In 2022, 156 drivers were caught in Norfolk travelling at more than 100mph - down from 162 drivers in 2021.

PC Daniel Brock, from Norfolk Police, said the priority for him as a neighbourhood officer in King's Lynn was dealing with cars travelling too fast in 20 or 30mph zones.

"In King's Lynn we definitely don't get too many people doing over 100," he said.

"We do have the A47 and the A10 but it's 30mph roads that are the majority.

"And then people don't seem to realise when it drops to a 20mph. A collision at that speed can cause just as many injuries as one at high speeds."

PC Brock said the force regularly carries out speed checks across the county.

He said drivers should not use apps to share details of where the traffic patrols are, or flash their lights to warn fellow motorists.

"We know people flash their lights but what they don't realise is that is a criminal offence," he said.

"We're not here to catch people, to say I want to take your money from you.

"There is no quota and the money doesn't come to us, it goes into the road safety department.

"For us it's about making sure that people are safe and that no one is getting injured and we are preventing injuries on the road."

A DfT spokesperson said: "The safety of our roads is an absolute priority for this government, and there's no excuse for those who risk the lives of others through speeding.

"We continue to assess how motorists can benefit from the latest technology, ensuring journeys are safe, reliable, and cut emissions."

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