Swedish speeder faces world record speeding fine, based on salary

The speed racer in his Mercedes-Benz was caught on camera and allegedly clocked going 180 miles-per-hour along the Swiss A12 highway last week.

The unidentified Swedish man, 37, was traveling so fast that he needed almost a third of a mile to bring his £160,000 sports car to a stop when highway patrol came after him. Because of the formula Switzerland uses in basing its speeding fines on the driver's salary as well as how much over the speed limit they are going, this Swede may be facing a £650,000 fine, according to Sky News. A spokesman for the police said: "We have no record of anyone being caught traveling faster in the country." In 2001, Anssi Vanjoki, the Finnish boss of Nokia, was caught going 17 mph over the 30 mph speed limit on his Harley Davidson in Helsinki, Finland. Finland uses a similar formula as the Swiss in determining speeding fines. So because of Vanjoki's large salary, he was fined £95,400, in what was believed to be the world's largest speeding fine at the time.