Welsh driver caught doing 142mph on country road

A Welsh motorist has been caught travelling at 142mph on a 60mph country road, new research from Ageas has revealed.

The study, which analysed data from 32 police forces around the country, reveals the shocking scale of reckless driving. 342,700 speeding offences were recorded on 60mph rural roads between 2021 and 2025 – including 742 motorists caught travelling at more than 100mph.

North Wales police reported 22,186 cases of drivers breaking the speed limit on country roads, with the highest recorded speed of 142mph.

The highest recorded speed across the entire study was 144mph – more than double the national limit – with motorists in both Lancashire and North Yorkshire caught at this speed. Meanwhile, Surrey Police recorded 207 drivers doing over 100mph, accounting for nearly a third (28%) of all 100mph+ violations in the dataset.

The research also found that over two-thirds (67%) of motorists currently feel unsafe travelling at 60mph on country roads, with 66% saying a lack of speed cameras encourages people to drive faster. Finally, nearly two-thirds (64%) of motorists said they would support a blanker speed limit reduction on rural roads.

Is this something you’d be interested in covering? I’ve included a full press release below, which has more regional breakdowns of the data, as well comments from Jonathan Price, Managing Director at Ageas. You can also read more on the Ageas website – https://www.ageas.co.uk/solved/road-safety/do-you-feel-safe-driving-on-rural-roads/

Let me know if you have any questions, or if you’d like me to send anything else over.

Thanks,

Matt

Drivers caught doing 144mph on country roads, as 2 in 3 motorists admit feeling unsafe

• 67% of UK motorists feel unsafe travelling at 60mph on rural roads, with 55% saying the current 60mph speed limit is too high

• 66% of drivers believe a lack of speed cameras and lower traffic volume encourages motorists to drive faster on rural roads

• Police data reveals 342,700 speeding offences recorded on 60mph single-carriageway roads over the last 5 years, with peak speeds reaching 144mph

More than two-thirds (67%) of UK motorists admit they feel unsafe travelling at the national 60mph speed limit on narrow or winding country roads, according to new research from car insurance provider Ageas.

The study, which combines national consumer research with data from UK police forces, examines motorists’ views on speed limits and driver confidence on rural single-carriageway roads.

Over half (55%) of UK motorists believe the default 60mph limit on these routes is too high, while nearly two-thirds (64%) said they would support a blanket speed limit reduction on rural roads.

When asked about enforcement, 66% of drivers said they believe that a lack of speed cameras and fewer motorists on rural roads encourages people to drive faster.

Data obtained via Freedom of Information requests from 32 police forces provides additional context, revealing that 342,700 speeding offences were recorded on 60mph single-carriageway roads between 2021 and 2025.

While 95% of offenders were recorded travelling between 61mph and 80mph, the data also uncovered a number of very high-speed offences, including:

• Police forces in Lancashire and North Yorkshire both reported motorists travelling at 144mph on 60mph roads

• Across the UK, 742 drivers were caught travelling at speeds of over 100mph

• Surrey Police recorded 207 drivers doing over 100mph, accounting for nearly a third (28%) of all 100mph+ violations in the nationwide dataset

Regional data reveals that three police force areas accounted for 42% of all reported offences in the dataset – West Mercia (55,993), Avon and Somerset (52,121) and Cambridgeshire (35,534) – accounting for 42% of all reported offences nationwide.

Police Force Area	Total 5-Year Offences	Highest Recorded Speed
West Mercia	55,993	136mph
Avon and Somerset	52,121	126mph
Cambridgeshire	35,534	130mph
North Yorkshire	30,195	144mph
Bedfordshire	23,796	140mph
North Wales	22,186	142mph
Sussex	22,143	Not reported
Lincolnshire	12,890	136mph
Kent	11,644	115mph
Hertfordshire	11,298	130mph

Jonathan Price, Managing Director for the direct business at Ageas UK, commented: 

“Rural roads present unique, fast changing hazards, from hidden junctions and farm machinery to cyclists, walkers, and animals around blind bends. Our research shows that these challenges leave many drivers feeling uncomfortable driving on rural roads at speed. Adapting your speed to the road, weather, visibility and traffic conditions helps to reduce the likelihood of an accident and keep our roads safe.”

For more information and guidance on safely navigating rural roads, visit the Ageas website.