Shock and anger – users speak out on police speed case
SIR – If a 1mph reduction in speed equates to a 5% reduction in accidents, (Source: my recent fixed penalty notice) then surely speeding at 89 mph over the limit must increase the risk of accident by a factor of 445. Have the police ever heard of a risk assessment?
I was caught doing 58 mph in a 50 mph zone. In mitigation I was well past the lights that the speed limit is designed to protect and on a clear dual carriageway with no junctions nearby on a sunny bank holiday with little traffic.
Had I been doing 50mph on a foggy and wet morning with heavy traffic and schoolchildren on bikes all over the road, I would have been totally fine as regards the law.
I am now, in my opinion, a less safe driver as I spend more time watching the speedometer than I should need to. This can only mean I spend less time looking at where I should be looking, i.e. the road.
Also the likelihood of being stopped is now vastly less than it was. This is an open encouragement to anyone who fancies driving after a few pints – just stick to the speed limit and you’ll be fine. Tyres bald? Don’t worry, just make sure they’re OK for the MoT test. Insurance run out?
I know this sounds ludicrous but when was the last time you were pulled over? Finally I’m no boy racer with an axe to grind, I’m a 40 -year-old Volvo driver who has not had an accident or any points (until two weeks ago) in the past 20 years. I am also a CPC qualified transport manager who deals with road transport daily and is fully aware of the dangers of speeding.
Ian Isitt
Thompson Technik, Hessle
Our drivers are being fined – it’s so unfair
SIR – Your front page story last week made my blood boil. Our drivers are being fined for doing 56mph in a 50 limit at 5.30am and this clown can exceed the speed limit by more than double and face no prosecution. This policeman should have had his licence removed and sacked.
Brian McKenna
Transport manager, Donald Murray Paper
‘Idiot driver’ should have been sentenced
SIR – I was absolutely appalled when I read about police officer Mark Milton, who was cleared of speeding and dangerous driving as a result of his ‘familiarisation’ run.
How could such an ‘idiot driver’ allow himself to travel at 84 mph in a 30 mph zone and 130 mph in a 60 mph zone?
There is no excuse for driving at these speeds regardless of the hour of the day or even if he was responding to an urgent call.
The roads may have been quiet but experience says that in the middle of the night there are a lot more young people about than PC Milton would have us believe. Why would he also need to travel at these speeds anyway, as I was under the impression that in the event of a joy-rider speeding in a stolen vehicle the normal police action is to ‘abandon the pursuit’, when the position becomes too dangerous.
Advanced driver
Swansea
No threat? Nor was I but I’m being fined
SIR – I am galled by the judge’s comments stating that he did not consider PC Mark Milton posed any threat to pedestrians or other motorists, as the journey took place in the early hours of the morning.
I have just received a notice of intended prosecution for exceeding a 40 mph speed restriction by 10mph through roadworks on the M4 at 2.57am.
I accept that legally I am to blame, but I’m convinced the signs stated 50mph and all the cones had been moved to the hard shoulder with all three lanes open for use. As far as I could see, at that time in the morning, I was the only car on the M4. I wonder if the judge from Ludlow would accept an appeal from me?
John Gregory
Chauffeur, Hertfordshire
Let’s campaign on early hours limits
SIR – The district judge in the case said that as the officer was testing his car in the early hours ‘he did not pose a threat to pedestrians or other motorists’.
Can we now see a campaign to remove ‘temporary’ speed limits during the early hours? I am thinking of roadworks with speed limits at 3am when the roads are almost empty and the roadworkers are tucked up in bed.
Or if you do get clocked, do you plead innocence using this case as a precedent?
Malcolm Andrews
Leavesley Containers
Login to comment
Comments
No comments have been made yet.