Concerned neighbours say they are worried about pedestrians being seriously injured as the Post can reveal drivers have been clocked doing almost three times the limit on residential roads.

Barking and Dagenham Post: A1306 junction with South CloseA1306 junction with South Close (Image: Archant)

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by this paper reveals one driver was caught on camera doing 83mph in Ballards Road, Dagenham in November – in a 30mph zone.

Relief caretaker Kim Brown, 55, who lives opposite the speed camera, has had two of her pet cats run over.

“I guess we’ll never know what happened but cats are careful animals – I’m sure if the vehicle had slowed down they would have been able to take evasive action,” she said.

“There are a number of schools along Ballards Road so there are always people crossing the road – it’s just a matter of time before a serious accident happens.

Barking and Dagenham Post: A1306 junction with South CloseA1306 junction with South Close (Image: Archant)

“People do definitely speed down that road. Most people are careful, but you get those that forget that speed restrictions apply to them.”

Kelly Collins, 21, of Boleyn Gardens, was hit by a car while crossing that road when she was 14, breaking one of her kneecaps.

“I don’t remember much but when I woke up I was at the side of the road and my mum was standing over me,” she said.

“I was only going across the road to meet a friend before school.”

A speed camera on the A12 at the junction of Whalebone Lane North, recorded eight vehicles travelling between 70 and 80mph last year, breaking the 50mph limit by up to 60 per cent.

Of those, six were hit with a £100 fine and three penalty points while another had to pay £455 costs and received six penalty points.

Barking MP Margaret Hodge says speeding is a persistent issue in the borough.

“I regularly hear from residents who are worried about the number of speeding cars travelling down their road,” she said.

“This is dangerous and can cause serious accidents. I will push the police to take action against careless people using the roads.”

However the speeds recorded in the borough have decreased over the past three years with a driver clocking 94mph on the A13 Thames Gateway last year, compared to 104mph on the same stretch of road in 2013.

A Met spokesman said: “The vast majority of people caught speeding by the Met on London’s roads are detected and enforced.

“In all cases, driving over the speed limit is a serious offence. There can be consequences for the driver and other road users.

“Speed can be a contributing factor in serious and fatal collisions with devastating impact on victims and their families.”