Uninsured driver caught driving at 149mph on M5
Driver was spotted by an officer in an unmarked police car in November last year
Last updated 20th Mar 2026
An uninsured driver who was caught speeding at almost 150mph on the M5 has been banned from driving, police said.
Paiwand Siamand, 25, received a 36-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
He was also banned from driving for 12 months and told to pay £272 court costs when he was sentenced at Bristol Magistrates’ Court last week.
The defendant, of Doncaster Road, Bristol, previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, using a vehicle without insurance and for driving otherwise in accordance with a licence.
Avon and Somerset Police said Siamand was arrested following the incident between junctions 24 and 25 of the M5 on the evening of November 8 last year.
Pc Nick Steele was in an unmarked police car while he was conducting a speed check on a vehicle when a gold Volkswagen Golf R passed him in lane three.
The officer followed the Golf and recorded speeds of up to 149mph on a damp, unlit section of the motorway when there was moderate traffic.
Concerned about the risk of a serious collision, Pc Steele activated his emergency lights and followed the Golf off the motorway at junction 25, in Taunton.
“Driving at 149mph on a damp, unlit motorway with moderate traffic presents an extreme danger to all road users,” Pc Steele said.
“At this speed and due to the typical reaction time, the vehicle would travel more than 100 metres before the driver could respond to a hazard.
“Wet conditions significantly increase braking distances while poor lighting reduces visibility and situational awareness.
“The presence of moderate traffic heightens collision risk and it was fortunate nobody was significantly harmed during the incident.”