Some of the highest speeds on 20mph and 30mph roads in the UK have been recorded in Northern Ireland, new figures reveal. A Freedom of Information request from RAC to the UK's 45 police forces showed that almost all (90%) recorded people driving at 60mph on these roads.
Northern Ireland was in the top ten highest recorded speeds on such roads. From January 2023 to August 2024, the PSNI clocked a highest speed of 100mph on a 30mph road, and 49mph on a 20mph road.
Such roads are the most likely to have a high number of pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users using them. The highest speed recorded on such roads in the UK was 122mph on a 30mph road, recorded by South Yorkshire Police.
Read more: Highest speed detected on NI roads in past year exceeded 140mph
Read more: The areas in Northern Ireland with the most driving offences revealed
In total, six-in-ten police forces (24) have caught motorists driving over twice the speed limit on 20mph roads, with seven recording speeds of more than 60mph. Government data shows speed is the biggest factor reported in fatal road collisions – it is a factor in 58% of fatalities, and in 43% of road collisions of all severities. In 2023 speed contributed to 888 fatalities, and 39,882 collisions of all severities.
The highest overall speed recorded on any road in Northern Ireland between September 2023 and August 2024 was 149mph recorded on the M2 Foreshore at around 11pm - a shocking 79mph over the road's speed limit.
RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “Although this data is a snapshot, it shines a light on the incredibly dangerous actions of a few that are putting law-abiding road users at serious risk. Thankfully, the police were on hand to catch these drivers.
“There is no place for the vastly excessive speeds that some people are prepared to drive. While some speeds were recorded in the middle of the night when traffic will have been lighter, this isn’t always the case – some of the fastest drivers were clocked at other times of day when they’d have been sharing the roads with many others.
“Speed is the leading cause of deaths on UK roads. We look forward to the Government’s forthcoming road safety strategy understanding what can be done to reduce such avoidable casualties on the UK’s roads.”
A PSNI spokesperson said: "Road safety throughout Northern Ireland is, and will continue to be, a key priority for the Northern Ireland Road Safety Partnership and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
"Our primary aim is to prevent people from being killed or seriously injured on our roads. Driving at speeds well in excess of the speed limit not only displays a clear disregard for other road users but is also reckless and dangerous. All breaches of speed limits are a concern and, as speed rises, so do the chances of death, serious injury and criminal sanction.
"Making our roads safer is a responsibility we all share and the Police Service will continue to do all we can to raise awareness of road safety, as well as work to detect and prosecute offenders. Remember the ‘Fatal Five’ and the steps you can take to avoid them. Don’t drink and drive, slow down, don’t get careless, wear your seat belt and stay off your phone."
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