Woman banned from driving after travelling at 46mph on the M4

Lorraine Peel was convicted after an automatic speed camera in an area of roadworks caught her doing 46mph

16:17, 07 Aug 2025Updated 16:18, 07 Aug 2025

A woman was caught driving at 46mph on the eastbound M4 by an automatic speed camera in a roadworks area with a temporary 40mph limit. Lorraine Peel, from Newbury, was travelling through this stretch of road when she was caught, High Wycombe Magistrates' Court was told.

Following the incident on August 14, 2024, the 60-year-old driver admitted to exceeding a temporary speed restriction. As a result, Peel was disqualified from driving for six months and received six points on her licence.

She was also fined GBP154, ordered to pay GBP120 in court costs and a GBP62 surcharge, all due by August 12.

Meanwhile, drivers are calling for a "referendum" on a new UK traffic law concerning the 20mph speed limits in Wales, insisting that "all limits need to be restored".

This follows a previous petition urging the Welsh Government[1] to abolish 20mph limits, which gathered over 469,000 signatures.

A fresh petition has now been launched demanding a "public poll" on 20mph speed limits across Wales.

Martyn Evans, who started the petition, stated: " We require a public poll on 20 mph speed limits as the Welsh people are being ignored.", reports Birmingham Live[2].

He added: "The speed limit petition has been ignored by those in power, the only way to properly gauge feeling from the people would be to have a public poll of all Welsh voters, and, when it is realised how hated the 20 mph limits are, then they should be changed back to 30mph immediately.

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"The promise of the Senedd listening was yet another lie from politicians too self-absorbed to listen to the voters.

We have now seen many other speed limits also reduced, which also need returning to the previous limits.

"Since the petition against the 20mph speed limit closed, there has been a lot of talk but very little visible action on this matter, and more speed limits have been reduced.

"All limits need to be restored, including the M4[4] back to 70mph, as the pollution excuse is now redundant as a large part of Port Talbot[5] steelworks has been shut down.

"In my opinion, the safety reason for these limits is being proved wrong every day as there now appear to be more accidents than ever.

"This law has targeted the wrong people, the people speeding excessively are still speeding, but now I believe the accidents are more severe as when the speeders hit those who wish to keep their licenses, the speed difference is now far greater.

"It is also causing more road rage incidents than I've seen in 35 years of driving, and has reduced the significance of the areas that had, and actually needed, 20mph limits.

"It has been and continues to be a waste of time and money, forced on us by zealots that have no idea how this country needs to be run."

References

1. ^ Welsh Government (www.walesonline.co.uk)
2. ^ Birmingham Live (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
3. ^ to our crime newsletter here (www.walesonline.co.uk)
4. ^ the M4 (www.walesonline.co.uk)
5. ^ Port Talbot (www.walesonline.co.uk)