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To: Electronic Telegraph <et.letters@telegraph.co.uk>
Re: Facing up to the main cause of death and injury on our roads
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2001
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Dear Sir/Madam, When are we going to face up to the main cause of death and injury on our roads - our lax attitude towards speeding - and put an end to it? Rapping someone lightly across the knuckles, merely confirms motorists' belief that speeding is not a serious offence - unless, of course, someone is killed or seriously injured as a result. Then suddenly everything changes and people are calling for severe punishment. But it is too late - the damage has been done (93mph Anne 'thought blue light was her police escort', 14 March 2001; Geri Halliwell is banned for speeding, 15 March 2001). Motorists - and not just celebrities - need to be deterred from speeding BEFORE there is a serious accident. The way to achieve this is simple, but requires a general change of attitude, similar to the one that has occurred in respect to drinking and driving. The deterrent should also be as simple as it is just: either you keep
to the speed limit, or you leave the road. Stiff fines and jail should
be reserved for those who drive when they have been banned.
15 March 2001 (News in Brief) Geri Halliwell is banned for speeding GERI HALLIWELL, the former Spice Girl, was banned from driving for 42
days and fined £400 yesterday after admitting driving at 60mph in
a 30mph zone. She had pleaded guilty in writing but was ordered to appear
before magistrates in Watford, Herts. The court was told a speed camera
confirmed that Halliwell, 28, drove at double the speed limit in her Aston
Martin DB7 on the A411 towards Watford on Oct 31. At the end of the hearing,
Halliwell smiled at the bench, waved discreetly and wished them a nice
day.
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