Geri Halliwell, the former Spice Girl, was banned from driving for 42 days and fined #400 for speeding yesterday. She was caught doing 60mph in a 30mph zone. On Tuesday the Princess Royal was also fined #400 for driving at 93mph in her Bentley. She said that she thought the flashing blue light behind her was a police escort.
Q: A likely tale, but have
people always driven too fast?
A: There are occasional references to road accidents in Roman times. Certainly, the Romans had one-way streets, parking laws, crossing places, pavements, and posibly even roundabouts.
Q: Apart from incidences of chariot rage, when did speeding become a road safety issue?
A: In 1875 there were 1589 fatalities, mostly involving horse-drawn vehicles of some sort, and some of them were due to speeding. Public transport carriages between major towns and cities were notorious for their speed.
Q: At what point did the law step in?
A: This really began with the motoring age, although drinking while in charge of a carriage, horse, or cattle was an offence by 1872. It was steam engines which really alarmed the authorities. The Locomotive Act 1861 imposed a speed limit of 10mph and its replacement four years later set the speed limit at 4mph in the country and 2mph in towns.
Q: What about the man with the red flag?
A: That was another part of the 1865 Act. A man with a red flag or lantern was required to walk 60 yards ahead of each vehicle. An amending Act 13 years later reduced the distance to a more manageable 20 yards but this still meant that motor traffic could move at no more than the walking pace of whoever held the flag.
Q: When was the red flag removed?
A: Energetic lobbying by motoring enthusiasts convinced the government to change the law. The red flag requirement was ditched in 1896 and the event was celebrated by the ''Emancipation Run'' from London to Brighton in which many of the cars of the day took part.
Q: How did speed limits change thereafter?
A: In 1896 the limit was 12mph and by 1903 it had become 20mph. This was abolished in 1930 and reintroduced in 1934 as 30mph in built-up areas.
Q: What about speeding in countries like America?
A: Dangerous. Speed in a school zone in Arkansas and you can go to jail for up to 10 days. In Michigan the maximum penalty is 90 days. British chief constables would approve.
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