Former Cambridge United footballer clocks an unofficial UK record for being caught speeding at 156mph on the A1
speed - Credit: Archant
A former Cambridge United footballer may not have won many medals on the field but off the field he’s been crowned Britain’s unofficial fastest driver of 2015.
Striker Jordan Slew was clocked at 156 mph on the A1 in Cambridgeshire in his £60,000 BMW, narrowly beating the 155mph clocked by a Mercedes driver on the M1 at Bricket Wood, Hertfordshire.
The figures for speeding drivers have been compiled using Freedom of Information requests by the BBC.
These revealed than last year alone more than 2,000 drivers were caught by police speeding at more than 100mph.
The Cambridgeshire constabulary recorded the highest number of drivers going more than 100mph (284); followed by Humberside Police (166); Avon and Somerset Constabulary (164); Hertfordshire Constabulary (155); North Yorkshire Police (154), and West Mercia Police (151
The BBC compiled FOI information from 42 of the UK’s 45 police forces.
The National Police Chiefs Council lead for Roads Policing, Chief Constable Suzette Davenport, told the BBC: “Speed is a significant factor in fatal road accidents and extreme speed causes an even greater risk to road users.”
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The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said road safety was the number one priority for the industry.
“The industry… does not condone excessive speed and compiles with strict advertising rules covering speed,” it said in a statement.
“Speed limits are in place for a reason and those who exceed them should face the full force of the law.”
A Cambridgeshire police spokesman said: “Driving at speeds in excess of 100mph is totally unacceptable.
“Speed limits are put in place for a reason, and that reason is to keep people safe on our roads and ultimately prevent serious injury or even death.
“Our road policing officers actively target those who think breaking the speed limits is acceptable, and those caught face severe penalties.”
Slew joined Cambridge United last year but has recently left the club and joined Chesterfield. In August a court banned him from driving for six months and fined him £1,400 for the speeding offence.
