Safe Speed Forums

Speed camera snaps of region's maniac motorists
Feb 20 2011 by James Moore, Sunday Sun
Photos -
HURTLING at speeds of almost three times the limit, these danger drivers are putting lives at risk.

Today the Sunday Sun can reveal speed camera snapshots of just some of the North’s worst speeders to hit the roads in recent months.

These images, released to us to highlight dangerous driving, show one driver in the region reaching a shocking 88mph in a 30mph zone.

Traffic bosses branded the drivers who flouted the speed limits as “maniacs.”

Jeremy Forsberg of the Northumbria Safer Roads Initiative said: “It’s disheartening to see speeds this outrageous plaguing our roads and putting innocent lives at risk.

“Some of these are maniac speeds and simply put other road users in danger.”

The 88mph driver, in a foreign car, was pictured at Princess Way in Prudhoe, Northumberland and was fined £60 and got three penalty points.

Another foreign driver was clocked doing 74mph in a 30mph zone on Westgate Road, Newcastle, and also was hit with a £60 fine and three penalty points.

One driver reached a speed of 80mph on the 50mph Chainbridge Road in Blaydon, Gateshead, and was fined £165 and given six penalty points.

Elsewhere one driver was hit with a 40 day disqualification, and a £60 fine after doing 68mph on the 30mph Barrack Road in Newcastle.

Other shamed drivers reached 55mph in a 40mph zone on Newcastle Road, Simonside, Jarrow, 87mph on the 60mph A698 in Berwick and one driver clocked 51mph on the 30mph Durham Road in Sunderland.

They were given fines up to £110 and a range of penalty points.

Mr Forsberg added: “We have been seeing less of these disgraceful speeds and the vast majority of motorists are respectful of others and the traffic laws.

“Some of the penalties for the high speeds are for foreign drivers. A ghost licence is created and penalties awarded so that there is a record of the offence. More progress is being made against foreign drivers who behave inappropriately on our regions roads and drive in a dangerous manner.

“Those exceeding the speed limit in urban areas or rural villages, especially in a 30mph limit are creating a fatal environment for pedestrians. A pedestrian hit at 40mph is four times more likely to die than hit at 30mph. It horrifying to the think of the consequences at 50, 60 and even 80mph.”

The 88mph driver (30 limit), in a foreign car, was pictured at Princess Way in Prudhoe, Northumberland and was fined £60 and got three penalty points.

Another foreign driver was clocked doing 74mph in a 30mph zone on Westgate Road, Newcastle, and also was hit with a £60 fine and three penalty points.

One driver reached a speed of 80mph on the 50mph Chainbridge Road in Blaydon, Gateshead, and was fined £165 and given six penalty points.

Elsewhere one driver was hit with a 40 day disqualification, and a £60 fine after doing 68mph on the 30mph Barrack Road in Newcastle