Police hunt 'idiot' driver who did 151mph on M1 during lockdown

13 April 2020, 12:02

Police are trying to trace a driver who risked the lives of other motorists on the M1 during London’s locked down Bank Holiday weekend.

Head of Scotland Yard's Road and Transport Policing Command Detective Superintendent Andy Cox posted shocking footage online today showing police pursuing a motorist doing 151mph on the M1 motorway southbound at junction 2, before exiting near Colindale to the A1.

He wrote online: "This driver reached 151mph on M1 before decamping care and evading police on foot. We will do our utmost to identify and take action.

"Anyhow no doubt will come to our attention again before he hurts somebody!”

He also said that a driver had been caught doing 97mph in a 40 mph zone on the A10.

The driver's recklessness sparked an angry backlash online.

One person wrote: "Hope you catch these idiots soon."

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Another posted: "Such speeds are completely unnecessary."

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Police began an authorised pursuit of a vehicle that failed to stop for police on the M1 on the evening of Friday, 11 April.

"The vehicle was driven at excessive speed in a bid to evade police.

"The pursuit ended when the driver of the vehicle stopped and decamped.

"Enquiries to locate them are ongoing."

The footage was released just days after Det Supt Cox issued a warning, saying that very high speeds were being recorded on empty roads in London, with the risk of fatal and serious crashes adding pressure to the NHS.

He appealed for drivers to slow down and drive safely.