A DISQUALIFIED driver who was caught speeding at almost 120mph on a Hampshire motorway has been slammed by community leaders.

The motorist, who had no insurance policy, was clocked doing 117mph on the M27 on Saturday while heading east at Rownhams.

Now cllr Alison Finlay, who represents Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams on Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC), has branded the Mercedes E Class driver's speeding as "completely unacceptable".

Ms Finlay said: "It is extremely dangerous for people to exceed the speed limit and, even though the roads were possibly more empty than usual, it is completely unacceptable and still not an excuse.

"It puts other people's lives at risk so I couldn't possible condone it; it could have created an extra problem for the NHS at this particular time."

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Cllr Phil Bundy, who represents Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams on TVBC, said: "This should be a warning to people because the other day we were outside clapping for the NHS and I could not believe the speed at which some people were going by.

"There has been a noticeable reduction in the amount of traffic since the start of lockdown and I have observed an increase in some people's speed."

Hampshire Chronicle: Cllr Phil BundyCllr Phil Bundy

A spokesperson from Hampshire police said: "The driver was interviewed and reported for summons for the offences of driving while disqualified, speeding and driving without insurance.

"Hampshire Constabulary is supporting a national ‘Slow Down Save Lives’ campaign which will be targeting speeding.

"Our roads policing officers will be using social media to document notable incidents as part of this campaign, and this incident is one of them."

Running until Sunday, June 7, the campaign aims to remind motorists of why it is important to travel within the speed limit, while making people more aware of the dangers of speeding.

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This comes as speeding has been identified as one of the ‘fatal four’ factors that results in fatal or serious injury collisions.

The 'fatal four' factors are the following: speeding, drink/driving, driving while using a mobile phone and driving without a seatbelt.

Thames Valley Police and Hampshire Constabulary Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit, PC Liz Johnson, said: “Research from across Europe suggests speeding is the most significant factor that contributes to road deaths and serious injury.

"Excessive or inappropriate speed has an appalling impact when you're involved in a collision.

"The forces experienced by the human body in a collision increase dramatically as the speed increases; if you collide with a pedestrian at 30mph they have an 80% chance of survival, however if you collide at 40mph then the pedestrian only has a 10% chance of survival."

She added: “Please do not speed. It's not worth the risk, and you will massively reduce the chances of being involved in a collision when an unexpected incident happens.”