Derry Driver Speeds at 217km/h for Chinese Takeaway

A driver was caught traveling at 217 km/h on a road in County Derry, Northern Ireland, after being stopped by police who said he was heading to a Chinese takeaway.

The incident occurred on the A6 road near Kilrea, according to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Officers intercepted the vehicle during a routine patrol, recording the speed using in-car technology. The driver, a man in his 20s, was stopped shortly after exceeding the speed limit by more than double the legal maximum of 100 km/h on that stretch of road.

PSNI confirmed that the driver admitted to officers that he was rushing to a Chinese takeaway before it closed. No further details about the specific restaurant or the driver’s identity were released, in line with standard police procedure for traffic offences.

The vehicle was seized at the scene under provisions of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, which allows police to impound vehicles used in dangerous driving. The driver was issued a court summons for dangerous driving and excessive speed, rather than a fixed penalty notice, due to the severity of the offence.

Excessive speed is a leading factor in road traffic collisions in Northern Ireland. According to PSNI statistics, speeding contributed to over 40% of fatal crashes in the region in the past year. Authorities have repeatedly warned that driving at extreme speeds significantly reduces reaction time and increases the likelihood of losing control, particularly on rural roads like the A6, which features bends, junctions, and variable surface conditions.

The PSNI urged the public to consider the consequences of such behaviour, noting that penalties for dangerous driving can include disqualification from driving, fines up to £5,000, and potential imprisonment. In cases where excessive speed leads to injury or death, charges can be escalated to causing death by dangerous driving, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.

Local councillors and road safety advocates in County Derry have called for increased use of average speed cameras and community speed watch programmes to deter dangerous driving. While no specific changes to enforcement on the A6 were announced following this incident, PSNI reiterated that mobile speed enforcement units operate regularly on the route, particularly during evenings and weekends.