A man has been arrested after being caught driving at speeds exceeding 130mph on the M4 in the early hours of this morning.
The incident occurred at approximately 1.10am, when Roads Policing officers observed a grey BMW M440i travelling at high speed eastbound from junction 16.
The vehicle was later seen accelerating to speeds between 130mph and 140mph as it approached Membury Services, endangering both the driver and other road users. Officers managed to stop the car at the services, where they conducted a roadside drugs wipe test. The test returned a positive result for cannabis.
The driver, a man in his 20s from London, was promptly arrested on suspicion of drug driving. During the subsequent search of the vehicle, officers discovered a substantial amount of cash and several bank cards, leading to further suspicion of fraud by false representation.
In addition to the driver, two other men, aged 20 and 23, both from London, were also arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation. All three men remain in custody at Gablecross Police Station for questioning.
Sgt Will Ayres from the Roads Policing Unit commented on the arrest, stating, “The vehicle immediately caught our attention due to the excessive speeds at which it was travelling. Driving at these speeds, and under the influence of drugs, is both selfish and dangerous, putting the lives of all road users at serious risk.”
This incident highlights the ongoing concerns regarding road safety, particularly as Wiltshire Police continue to run their Road Safety Summer Campaign. The campaign promotes the message that there is #NoExcuse for committing any of the Fatal Five offences on the roads, which include speeding, drink and drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt, using a mobile phone while driving, and careless or dangerous driving.
For more information about the campaign, visit the Wiltshire Police website.
