Nearly half of UK police forces (48%) have recorded drivers exceeding 90mph in 30mph zones, according to new data released by the RAC following a series of Freedom of Information requests submitted to all 45 police forces across the UK. The findings expose a deeply concerning pattern of extreme speeding, particularly in urban and residential areas where vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, children, and cyclists, are most at risk.
Of the 40 police forces that provided usable data, 90% had recorded drivers exceeding 60mph in 30mph zones, more than double the legal speed limit.
The most extreme case on a 30mph road was clocked at a shocking 122mph, recorded by South Yorkshire Police.
Even more disturbing, North Wales Police registered a driver travelling at 88mph in a 20mph zone—over four times the limit in areas often near schools, parks, and housing estates.
In total, six in ten police forces (24 out of 40) had caught drivers travelling at more than twice the speed limit on 20mph roads, and seven forces reported speeds exceeding 60mph in these slow-speed zones. These roads are typically introduced to increase safety in densely populated communities and near high-risk pedestrian areas.
Motorway and A-Road Offences Also Alarmingly High
While urban speeding is a major concern, the RAC also uncovered alarmingly high-speed violations on faster roads:
The highest speed recorded on any UK road was 167mph on a 70mph stretch of the M1, reported by Leicestershire Police. The greatest difference between the recorded speed and the posted speed limit was found on the A303 in Somerset, where a vehicle was caught driving 161mph in a 50mph zone—a 111mph disparity. More than half of the police forces (23, or 58%) recorded vehicles travelling over 140mph, mostly on 70mph motorway sections.
However, not all high-speed violations occurred on motorways. For example, South Yorkshire Police clocked a vehicle doing 146mph in a 50mph zone on the M1 southbound.
Police Scotland detected a driver travelling at 148mph in a 60mph area on the A68 in the Scottish Borders.
The Deadly Consequences of Speed
The scale of these violations is particularly alarming considering official government statistics, which show that speed is the single most reported contributory factor in fatal road collisions:
In 2023, speed was a factor in 58% of road deaths, contributing to 888 fatalities.
It also played a role in 43% of all road collisions, accounting for 39,882 incidents of all severities last year alone.
Officials Call for Stronger Action
Commenting on the findings, RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis emphasised the threat posed by a minority of highly dangerous drivers:
“Although this data is just a snapshot, it shines a harsh light on the reckless behaviour of a few individuals who are putting law-abiding road users in grave danger. Many of these excessive speeds were not confined to late-night hours—they occurred when other road users were present, compounding the risk.”
Dennis reiterated the RAC’s support for the UK Government’s forthcoming Road Safety Strategy, which aims to address preventable road casualties and hold dangerous drivers accountable.
Chief Constable Jo Shiner, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for roads policing, expressed similar concerns: “While some cases of speeding can be genuine errors, the speeds we’re seeing here are clear, deliberate choices to flout the law and endanger lives. Speed limits are not arbitrary—they’re set with road conditions, layouts, and the presence of vulnerable users in mind. Choosing to ignore them is reckless, selfish, and completely unacceptable.”
Vision Zero: A Push for No More Deaths
The need for urgent change is echoed by Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, who has launched a Road Safety Action Plan and appointed Mat MacDonald as the UK’s first dedicated Road Safety Commissioner.
“One life lost is one too many,” Parker said. “Too many people are being killed or seriously injured, and we must act now. We’re committed to Vision Zero—no more deaths on our roads.”
Looking Ahead
The RAC’s study is part of a broader investigation into dangerous driving behaviours. Speeding is one of the so-called “Fatal Four” driving offences that contribute most significantly to fatal crashes, alongside:
1. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
2. Not wearing seatbelts
3. Distractions such as mobile phone use
Earlier research by the RAC in January 2024 also indicated a growing “culture of speeding” among some UK drivers, suggesting that enforcement, education, and policy will all be key to turning the tide.