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Driver caught at 120mph on A2 near Gravesend congratulated by phone fitness app for new top speed

11:13, 31 March 2021

updated: 17:02, 31 March 2021

When a driver was stopped while hurtling down the A2 near Gravesend at almost double the limit he was likely feeling rather sheepish.

That probably wasn't helped when a fitness app notification popped up on his phone congratulating him on his highest speed yet - while officers were taking his details.

The reading taken by Kent Police
The reading taken by Kent Police

One special constable tweeted after the incident: "As I was dealing with this driver at the roadside for his excess speed on the A2, a notification popped up on his phone congratulating him on his new highest speed. You guessed it - 120mph!"

Adding: "#WhenFitnessTrackersBackfire"

If the motorist had been running at 120mph he'd have managed a 5km in 1 minute and 33 seconds.

That's 11 minutes faster than the obscenely quick 12.35 set by Ugandan world record holder Joshua Cheptegei.

And it's more than four times the top speed Usain Bolt reached.

But instead of a medal the driver has been reported for the offence and could later appear in court or receive a fine.

A spokesman for Kent Police said: "At around 7.30pm on Monday officers were patrolling the A2, Gravesend when they saw the blue Mercedes travelling at speed.

"The vehicle was stopped and a driver issued with a ticket for the offence."

Last year we reported how drivers were using lockdown restrictions to notch up eye-watering speeds on the county's motorways.

Kent was one of six police forces to clock drivers at over 130mph and a video had emerged weeks before the figures were published showing a man in an Audi hitting over 200mph.

If you're caught driving at 30mph or more over the limit or in excess of 100mph you can automatically lose your licence.

Driver records himself hitting 200mph

Avoid getting stuck on Kent's roads by keeping up-to-date on all of the latest traffic and travel news here or by following our live blog.

Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend

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