Record-Breaking Speed Captured on A689 Greatham: A Closer Look at Speeding Offences in Hartlepool...
- Cleveland Police Exposed
- Apr 9
- 3 min read
The information was unearthed as part of a freedom of information act by Cleveland Police revealing a driver was caught doing 113mph on a stretch of road where the speed limit is 70...
9th April 2025
Speeding remains a persistent issue on roads across the UK, and recent data obtained through a Freedom of Information request has shed light on some jaw-dropping speeds recorded in the Hartlepool area and beyond.
Amongst the standout figures, its claimed the highest speed clocked by a police camera in 2024 so far was a staggering 113mph on the A689 near Greatham, just on the outskirts of Hartlepool. This blog dives into the details of this incident and explores other speeding trends from 2023 and 2024, revealing the extremes some drivers are willing to push.
The Need for Speed: 113mph on the A689
In 2024, up to and including August 31, the A689 in Greatham on the outskirts of Hartlepool became the site of the year’s highest recorded speeding offence in the force area. At 5:00pm, a driver was reportedly caught traveling at 113mph on this stretch of road, where the speed limit is set at 70mph. That’s a whopping 43mph over the legal limit—an alarming speed that not only endangers the driver but also everyone else sharing the road. The A689, a key route connecting Hartlepool to nearby towns and the A19, is no stranger to traffic, but this incident highlights how some drivers treat it as a personal racetrack. Occurring in broad daylight at 5:00pm (one of the busiest times of the day), this wasn’t a late-night joyride but a bold daytime breach of the rules, with the offence being clocked as one of the fastest recorded speeding offences in the region for 2024 so far.
Comparing 2023: A19 Takes the Crown
Looking back at 2023, the highest speed recorded in the force area was even more extreme. A driver hit 116mph on the A19 Southbound near Middlesbrough, again on a road with a 70mph limit. This incident took place at 4:12am, a quieter time when roads are less congested—perhaps tempting the driver to test their vehicle’s limits. While the A689’s 113mph in 2024 is impressive (and concerning), it falls just short of the A19’s 2023 record.
Both cases show a pattern of excessive speeding on major roads with 70mph limits, raising questions about enforcement, road design, and driver behaviour on these high-speed routes.
Speeding in Lower Limits: 20mph and 30mph Zones
The Freedom of Information response also provided insight into speeding on roads with lower limits, where exceeding the cap can have even more immediate consequences due to pedestrian activity and residential areas.
20mph Zones: In 2023, the highest speed recorded was 46mph, more than double the limit. In 2024, this jumped to 64mph—triple the legal speed.
30mph Zones: Last year saw a top speed of 64mph, while 2024 recorded 56mph. Both are well over double the limit, posing significant risks in built-up areas.
These numbers suggest that whilst the headline-grabbing speeds occur on faster roads like the A689 and A19, lower-speed zones aren’t immune to reckless driving.
What Does This Mean for Hartlepool Drivers?
The 113mph incident on the A689 Greatham serves as a stark reminder of the extremes some drivers reach, even on familiar local roads. For residents of Hartlepool and those traveling through, it’s a call to stay vigilant—speeding at this level doesn’t just break the law; it gambles with lives. The fact that one such event occurred at 5:00pm, during one of the most busiest times for the road, only amplifies the potential danger.
And whilst is Police cameras are clearly doing their job in catching these offenders, prevention is said to be the ultimate goal. Whether that be through increased patrols, speed awareness campaigns, or tougher penalties, Cleveland Police say addressing this behaviour is crucial to keeping our roads safe.
