A RECORD 144,000 drivers were caught by speed cameras on the M1 last year — running up fines topping £12million.
Police figures show 300 a day were snared on its 193 miles from North London to West Yorks.
Busiest camera sites on the UK’s first motorway were at Junction 28 in Derbys were it meets the A38, with 26,214 nabbed.
Most drivers avoided penalty points by opting for a speed awareness course, typically £100.
Others got points and a fine while the worst offenders landed in court including the fastest — filmed at 159mph in a £60,000 BMWi.
The Alliance of British Drivers said motorways could safely have an 80mph limit as cars are safer.
Hugh Bladon, a founder member of the Alliance of British Drivers, said: “The speed limit on our motorways is now at an absurd level and the 70mph top speed has been in place since the 1960s.
“Lots of motorways could now have an 80mph limit and it’s time we acknowledged that our cars and much safer than when the limit was set at 70mph after the M1 was opened.
“I wonder how many of those people who were fined had been doing anything that was in the least bit dangerous?”
BUSIEST CAMERA SITES
1. J28 at Pinxton, Derbys (26,214). 2. J25 at Sandiacre, Derbys (15,819). 3. J8-J9 at Redbourn, Herts. (14,381) 4. J39-40 near Wakefield, West Yorks (12,529). 5. J14-15 near Newport Pagnell, Northants (11,902).
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