Driver caught speeding at 110mph due to needing ‘a number two’

What’s the worst excuse you’ve heard for someone breaking the speed limit? Racing home to watch EastEnders? Or maybe realising they’d left the straighteners plugged in?

Worst excuse for speeding

Well, a driver caught speeding on the A1(M) recently told officers he broke the law because he ‘needed the toilet.’

The silver Mercedes was pulled over by Cambridgeshire Police after it was clocked doing 110mph and recklessly undertaking other motorists in poor weather conditions.

And needing a comfort break could see the driver lose his license – just one of the possible punishments for those caught travelling over 100mph.

He was ‘very sorry’

An officer from the Beds, Cambs and Herts Road Policing Unit posted on Twitter after pulling over a “professional” HGV driver speeding down the A1(M) motorway near Yaxley.

But the driver reportedly had an excuse ready, telling the police officer he was ‘very sorry’ but ‘needed the toilet, a number 2’.

A1M Yaxley. Vehicle stopped after it passed our unmarked vehicle and then decided to drive along at 110mph undertaking in awful weather conditions 👎😡
The “professional” hgv driver was very sorry but he “needed the toilet, a number 2”
err that’s okay then 🙄
Reported.
1318/2431 pic.twitter.com/8LwuN1JM9W

— BCH Road Policing Unit (@roadpoliceBCH) August 28, 2019

The impending driving ban

While the minimum speeding ticket would cost drivers a fine of 25% of their weekly salary and three points on their licence, motorists caught speeding in excess of 100mph could face much harsher penalties.

Speeds of 101mph and above on a 70mph road are charged as a Band C speeding offence and could cost drivers as much as a 175% fine and a 56-day ban from the roads.

However, speeding guidelines also take into account other factors that might increase the risk of the offence, these include poor weather, the type of vehicle and number of passengers on board.

Road Traffic Regulations state: ‘Where an offender is driving grossly in excess of the speed limit the court should consider a disqualification in excess of 56 days. The court should then consider further adjustment for any aggravating or mitigating factors.’

The penalty has yet to be decided for the Yaxley driver, with the revocation of his license currently pending a decision by the court.

The UK’s speeding crisis

Last year in the UK, four people were caught speeding every minute. In 44% of cases, the offender was sent on a speed awareness course, while 34% received fixed penalty notices. Some 11% of offences were cancelled and 10% resulted in court action.

It’s now being estimated that around a quarter of all British drivers have now been on a speed awareness course.

Want more information on what you can expect from speed cameras this year? Check out our ultimate guide to speed cameras and stay on the right side of the law.