Image courtesy of Google maps
Recent figures released to Police Scotland by road safety charity, The Institute of Advanced Motoring (IAM), catalogue the top 20 most shocking speed offences recorded in Scotland over the past 15 months. With many of the worst cases taking place on A roads around Aberdeen and Angus, the question must be asked: are these figures just beefed up? Unfortunately not. The biggest offence was committed by a driver recklessly attempting to beat the speed of light to the mobile enforcement camera, flooring it at 139mph on a 60mph road!
Let us gain some perspective; gone are the days in which the local greengrocer would be publically scolded and fined a whopping 1 shilling for his 8mph rampage on a horse and cart through the narrow country lanes of the village. For a start you could hear it coming from a mile off like a herd of wildebeest sweeping across the plains. Obviously dangerous, but fair to say it would’ve posed a lot less danger than even the most meagrely powered cars on the road today. Original speed limits were imposed in The Locomotive Act of 1865, whereby the limit was set at 4mph (or 2mph through populated areas) but with the swiftly paced and relentless evolution of automotive technology, a certain irresponsibility has been endowed on motorists by the ease of taking the most casual of family cars above 100mph.
IAM chief executive Simon Best says: “These speeds show there are still drivers out there displaying a contempt for the law and for the safety of their fellow road users. This is made doubly worse by the fact the vast majority of the incidents took place on A roads, therefore putting oncoming motorists, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians at greater risk.”
Perhaps it’s an ambitious protest of action for a future Autobahn in Scotland (Bannockbahn?) however the worst recorded speed offences are in England and top out at a massive 149mph on the M25!
When you’ve been caught off guard going 34 in a 30 zone when you’ve left the casserole in the oven then speeding fines can be infuriating and seem unjustified. However, in light of these raceway renegades, should such flagrant disregard of basic road safety rules be met with harsher punishments? Should those people be forever bound to traverse the country by bike, legs or even horse riding if they’re feeling flashy? What would you decide?
Here are the infamous top 20 recorded speeders attempting the land speed record in sunny Scotland:
Offence speed/speed limit/road
1. 139mph/60mph/A96 Keith to Huntly Road approximately one mile east of B9115 junction Aberdeenshire
2. 129mph/70mph/A90 Dundee to Aberdeen Road at Waterston Road Angus
3. 127mph/70mph/A9 Perth to Inverness Road at Moulinearn Perth and Kinross
4. 125mph/70mph/A92 Crossgates to Cowdenbeath
5. 122mph/70mph/A90 Dundee to Aberdeen Road near Mill of Forest Stonehaven Aberdeenshire
6=. 121mph/70mph/A74(M) Glasgow – Carlisle Road southbound carriageway near to Greenhillstairs overbridge Beattock
6=. 121mph/70mph/A74(M) Glasgow – Carlisle Road southbound carriageway near to Torwood overbridge junction 17 Lockerbie
6=. 121mph/70mph/A90 Aberdeen to Dundee Road at Haughs of Finavon Farm Angus
9. 120mph/70mph/A9 Perth to Inverness Road at Moulinearn Perth and Kinross
10=. 119mph/70mph/M80 near to Barnego Road overbridge Dunipace
10=. 119mph/70mph/A74(M) Glasgow-Carlisle Road southbound carriageway near to Holms overbridge Beattock/ 12=. 118mph/70 mph/A1 Road Adniston East Lothian
12=. 118mph/70mph/A9 Perth to Inverness Road at Pitlochry A924 Perth and Kinross
12=. 118mph/70mph/A9 Perth to Stirling Road at Windyedge Farm Perth and Kinross
14. 117mph/70mph/A74(M) Glasgow-Carlisle Road southbound carriageway near to north overbridge junction 19 Ecclefechan
15. 116mph/70mph/A74(M) Glasgow – Carlisle Road southbound carriageway near to Torwood overbridge junction 17 Lockerbie
16=. 115mph/70mph/A74(M) Glasgow – Carlisle Road southbound carriageway near to Whicketthorn overbridge Kirkpatrick Fleming
16=. 115mph/70mph/A1 Road Adniston East Lothian
16=. 115mph/60mph/A82(T) public road near White Corries Rannoch Moor Highland
19=. 114mph/70mph/A74(M) Glasgow-Carlisle Road southbound carriageway near to north overbridge junction 19 Ecclefechan
19=. 114mph/70mph/A1 Road Adniston East Lothian
Andrew has been in the motor trade for over 20 years. What he enjoys most about his job is the team spirit and the dedication of his work colleagues. He also appreciates the teams input in the improvement of the company.
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