Driver caught doing 134mph in 40 zone as speeding hits new highs during pandemic

We’ve all seen plenty of reports about the huge reductions in the numbers of cars on the road and emissions above major cities during the last year.

What with all the restrictions and lockdowns we’ve been living under since the pandemic kicked off, it’s hardly been surprising news.

But some new stats released by the Department for Transport last month revealed a noticeable increase, and it’s one that leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.

As it turns out, many motorists who did head onto UK roads last year took full advantage of the lack of other vehicles around.

Resulting in a 7% increase in drivers breaking the speed limit.

Click here to read more about what happened

One of the less welcome legacies of Covid-19 includes this 7% rise in the percentage of cars breaking the limit on both 60mph limit single carriageways and 30mph roads.

From April to June last year, it was a whopping 63% of vehicles that went too fast on 60mph roads, up from 56% during the same period in 2019.

On motorways, the increase was just 1% to 53% of vehicles; still rather higher than you might expect.

One particular driver really went to town, razzing along the M62 at 151mph, while another did 140mph on the A14. One more got up to 134mph – in a 40mph zone.

 Every indication is that speeding levels will get back to normal after the pandemic. But since those “normal” numbers are still so high, what more could the UK be doing to reduce speeding further?

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