POLICE, politicians and road safety campaigners have described as "shocking" the astonishing speeds - including two of more than 160mph - recorded on a single road in Co Down.
Two vehicles were clocked doing more than 160mph, several over 150mph, while approximately 80 vehicles were recording speeding at more than 100mph in a 10 month period.
The high speeds detected on the 60mph limit A21 Ballynahinch Road outside Saintfield are the highest ever known recorded on any road in Northern Ireland outside of motorcycle racing.
Road safety activist Davy Jackson was "absolutely astounded" by the figures, adding he hoped the revelation will provoke a rethink on policing cuts.
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"These speeds are reckless and the drivers or riders are leaving themselves no room for error," said Davy Jackson, chair of Road Safe NI.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council confirmed the numbers as correct and said its engineers had checked the speed indicator device (SID).
It is not known what type of vehicles were caught on the device, including whether any, or how many, were motorcycles.
“The figures you provided in your enquiry are the speeds recorded by the SID. No faults were found when the sign was tested by engineers,” a spokesperson said.
“The Speed Indicator Devices (SIDs) are installed by Newry, Mourne and Down Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP)."
Currently, works are being carried out on the road.

SIDs are illuminated displays designed to remind drivers to slow down if they are over the speed limit. There are no cameras or other mechanisms on the devices to capture the vehicle’s type or plate number. The device was first placed on the road last January.
According to the figures obtained by The Irish News, the top speeds recorded over the 10 months, broken down into two month periods, were 161mph, 164mph, 154mph, 152mph and 156mph.
In total, the devices detected 85 vehicles being driven at speeds of more than 100mph.
The highest speed recorded by PSNI officers in the 12 months to the end of November 2022 was 140mph, on the M1 near Craigavon. It is believed the highest speed ever caught by the PSNI was 151mph on the M2 motorway at Antrim.
Rowallane Alliance Councillor David Lee-Surginor said the figures were “absolutely shocking”. He understands the PSNI is able to use the SID speeds, and the times recorded, to identify where to best deploy officers and mobile cameras.
“I have spoken to the PSNI and have requested that there should be more police officers, more prominent, more present to stop this happening,” said Mr Lee-Surginor.
“The PSNI are waiting to see what funding is available for more officers on the beat.”
But the force is in the middle of a well publicised budget crisis, with Chief Constable Simon Byrne previously warning of "a reduced proactive presence on our roads despite rising road deaths".
“Road Safe NI area absolutely astounded that these speeds have been recorded," said Mr Fraser.
"The drivers or riders of these vehicles are showing not only no regard for their own lives but also showing none for the lives of other road users.
"These speeds are reckless and the drivers or riders are leaving themselves no room for error. These people need to be caught and the full weight of the law brought to bear on them. They have no place on our roads.
"We would hope that the PSNI will target their resources in this area, however recent news about cut backs to various police departments including roads policing will make this difficult.
"Hopefully in light of these figures a rethink about cuts to front line policing can happen."
'Completely illegal'
Inspector Darren Hardy described some of the speeding figures as "shocking".
"Local police are working alongside specialist road policing unit colleagues to address this issue. We have used data from SIDS across the District to inform our patrolling strategy around road safety and have deployed resources regularly and conducted speed operations within the vicinity of the SIDs," he said.
"We will continue to deploy a range of liveried and unmarked resources in the area to deter and detect road traffic offences and keep people safe.
“We are determined to identify those people who are putting all road users lives at risk by travelling at these dangerous and completely illegal speeds.
“Driving or riding a motorbike brings with it responsibilities and everyone using our roads should do so safely or face up to the possible consequences.
“Whether as a driver, a motorcyclist, a pedestrian or a cyclist, we all share the roads and the responsibility for road safety. Slow down, pay greater attention to your surroundings and concentrate on the road, always wear a seatbelt and never drink or take drugs and drive.
“If everyone follows this advice, then together we can save lives and prevent injuries on our roads.”