Drivers clocked at four times the speed limit by West Midlands Police

Figures released by West Midlands Police under the Freedom of Information Act show the top speed clocked by speed traffic surveys so far this year was 128mph in a 50mph area at the A452 Collector Road, Castle Bromwich.

But shockingly, nearly identical speeds have been reached in 30mph areas – with 127mph vehicles recorded at A41 Oxford Street, Bilston, and A461 Lichfield Road in Walsall.

On 21 occasions since the year began, police have clocked drivers speeding at more than 100mph – well above the maximum speed limit cars are permitted to drive on motorways and dual carriageways.

A campaigner has warned speeding puts cyclists and pedestrians at a serious risk of injury or death ahead of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in November.

The Freedom of Information request was lodged by WhatDoTheyKnow site user Geoffrey Deakin and covers speed traffic surveys carried out by the force so far in 2021.

The request and response do not cover what action was taken in cases where drivers were caught speeding at each of the locations.

In addition to the examples listed above:

• A maximum speed of 124.80 mph was recorded at A45 Small Heath Highway, Birmingham on January 19 – more than three times the 40mph limit

• A driver was caught going at 121.40mph at A4036 Thorns Road, Brierley Hill on May 4 in a 30mph area

• Drivers were clocked at 127mph both northbound and southbound in 30mph Lode Lane in Solihull on May 18

• A driver was caught going at 119.20 at the B4484 Willenhall Road/Bilston Road, Bilston – a 30mph area – on June 23

Transport campaigner and charity lawyer Shivaji Shiva said: “These are remarkable figures. I wish I could also say they are surprising.

“Sadly, like anyone who regularly walks or cycles in Birmingham – or anywhere in the UK – I am used to seeing people driving at excessive speeds almost everywhere I go.

“On average, five people die on the roads every day in the UK. The police tell us that many of those will have been killed by drivers who speed.”

He referenced an incident in which then-six-year-old Noah Herring was hit by a Mercedes driven at speeds of more than 60mph in a 30mph zone in Stockton, County Durham, in February.

Mr Shiva said: “Over the last few days we have seen yet more examples of deaths and serious injuries on the road in which speed was a factor.

“One appalling example is that of Noah Herring, now seven, who suffered appalling injuries after driven into by a speeding driver doing 60mph in a 30mph zone.

“Noah’s family have taken the brave step of releasing the video of the collision to get the message about dangerous driving across.

“These figures show that despite a succession of cases like this people continue to speed and drive dangerously. All too many will kill.”

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster said: “Keeping our roads safe is one of my top priorities.

“Speed is one of the biggest killers and these figures show the recklessness of some drivers who have a total disregard for their own and others’ safety and the catastrophic consequences that can follow from their actions.

“Our Road Harm Prevention Team run operations all year round tackling those who speed on our roads. There isn’t an excuse for speeding. It puts lives at serious risk.

“The majority of drivers are responsible and abide by the speed limits. It is a minority who are putting lives at risk. This is unacceptable and people who drive at excess speed must be held to account.”