The 'well-used' Midlands road where motorists 'drag race' in full view of the law

With an open highway ahead of them, it's easy to see why drivers get carried away - and why people stand by with their speed guns

Speeding and racing on public roads is, of course, banned in the UK to protect road users from injury or worse. The Road Traffic Act 1988 bans street racing and anyone found guilty faces an automatic driving disqualification alongside a fine of up to £2,500.

The fastest anyone can legally travel by car on public roads is 70mph, which is on dual carriageways and motorways with a central barrier. Speeding generally carries a lesser punishment than racing but anyone who's been caught can expect to face a £100 fine and three penalty points on their license.

While rules are in place to ensure motorists drive safely, there will be times when drivers unfortunately flout the law. Other times, there will be cases where someone's manner of driving will be considered a grey area by the authorities.

READ MORE:I spent two hours on the M6 with officers and it took minutes to spot a problem

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Statistically, motorways are considered one of the safest places to drive in the UK. But they're also the roads where motorists tend to clock the highest speeds.

One such motorway where police regularly focus their attention in the West Midlands is the M6 Toll. There's a common misconception that because the toll road is privately owned, the usual speed limits don't apply.

But this is false and drivers here must still abide by the 70mph limit. Here, officers from Central Motorway Police Group often position themselves atop bridges with a speed guns to track drivers.

In recent years, they've seen speeds as high as 112mph. But I've found another part of the toll where drivers like to put their foot down. These are the toll booths - and may fall under a grey area.

Overall, the M6 Toll has two toll booths along its main carriageway, one at Great Wyrley and another at Weeford. Each one is equipped with rows of 10 kiosks, allowing plenty of drivers to cram in at the same time and use it.

But with a chuck of highway ahead of them after they've paid, and a standing start, motorists find it the perfect time to floor the accelerator - especially if they've got a souped-up car or motorbike. On no end of occasions have I seen drivers race ahead, their accelerators popping and roaring away.

Of course, this is not technically illegal. As long as you abide by other road laws, drive safely and keep to the speed limit, no law is stopping you from accelerating quickly.

But the police could pull you over, issue a ticket or fine, or even arrest you if they deem your manner of acceleration to constitute 'careless and inconsiderate driving' under the Police Reform Act 2002. While people may enjoy the thrill of using the toll's less congested highway, it's easy to see how drivers could carried away and raise eyebrows.