Motorway maniac clocked doing 138mph as Northants police nab 1,100 drivers speeding despite lockdown

Police clocked a motorist driving at 138mph in Northamptonshire as motorists ignore pleas to stick to the limit on empty roads during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Around 1,100 speeding offences have been spotted in less than a month since March 23.

Chief Constable Nick Adderley faced some criticism for keeping the county's mobile speed cameras operating after warning drivers were using empty roads like racetracks.

Cameras are also used to spot drivers using their phone and not wearing a seatbelt.

But, as well as the motorist caught doing 138mph, vehicles have been clocked doing 104mph in a 70mph limit and 63mph in a 30mph zone.

Northants Safer Roads Association chairman, Chief Superintendent Mick Stamper, said: “Our main priority is to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads by clamping down on the fatal four offences — speeding, drink and drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile phone behind the wheel,

“At a time when we are being asked to stay at home to protect our NHS, collisions caused by those driving or riding dangerously and recklessly will put an extra strain on all the emergency services.

“Those involved in a collision will require the use of the NHS, the police, fire and ambulance services, depriving precious medical care to those who really need it.

“We all need to work together at this time to help save lives, and one way to do this is to stop all non-essential travel. However, if you do need to use the roads, stick to the speed limits.

“Speeding not only puts your life at risk, but those of others.”

Traffic on UK roads is around 75 per cent less than it was before Primer Minister Boris Johnson told the country to stay at home in a bid to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus bug.

But police in London released dashcam footage of one driver on the M1 hitting 151mph.

PC Dave Lee of the Northants Police Safer Roads Team revealed officers have dealt with one fatal collision and two resulting in serious injuries in a single 24-hour period this week.

He said: “Reducing the number of people who are killed or seriously injured in Northamptonshire is one of our force's priorities, and this has not changed.

“Despite the travel restrictions, we will continue our enforcement activities across the county to provide an increased deterrent for motorists who continue to ignore the rules of the roads, putting their lives and others at risk.

“I have seen first-hand the devastating effect speeding can have not only on those involved in a collision but also family, friends and the wider community, so please stick to the speed limits.”