Is the safety message on excessive speed getting through to motorists? Some shocking examples have been highlighted by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) in the UK which suggests in England a Wales speed is still a serious issue.

The highest record speed offences in 2014 were two speeders clocked at 146mph on the M25. But perhaps most shocking of all was a driver caught doing 128mph in a 30mph zone in East Grinstead, Sussex.

The IAM asked police forces for speed statistics under Freedom of Information regulations. The organisation believes an improvement in driving skills and attitude is the key to reducing the numbers of people killed on the roads and wanted to highlight how the safety message is failing to resonate with many drivers.

Sarah Sillars, IAM chief executive officer, said, “It is disheartening that some road users are showing such disregard for the safety of all other road users. At speeds of 140mph an individual is travelling at nearly two-and-a-half miles a minute. At that speed it is simply impossible to react to anything that might happen in front of you. It is also impossible to handle corners, gradients, street furniture and junctions with any effectiveness. In short, all these individuals are playing with their own lives and others. They are all accidents waiting to happen and it requires a major shift in the attitudes of these people to think about safety.”