Sunday, October 01, 2006
Not in gear
The Observer reports that the minister responsible for reducing Britain's traffic casualties has been dropped from launching National Road Safety Week after he made 'irresponsible' comments defending the BBC's Top Gear:
Ladyman, the road safety minister, hailing Hammond, 36, as an 'adventurer,' said the programme did not encourage speeding among young men.
Mary Williams, chief executive of national road safety charity Brake, said: 'We are alarmed and disappointed that our road safety minister is taking the time to defend Top Gear which quite blatantly glamorises fast cars and in fact knocks the government's very own speed enforcement. Research quite clearly shows that drivers' attitudes can be influenced by the messages similar to that which Top Gear can promote.
'We also feel that distress was an inappropriately strong word to use, given the distress suffered by families affected by road death and injury caused by speeding drivers.
The charity believes that the credibility of Ladyman should also be questioned, particularly because Top Gear 'mocks' speed cameras which Brake maintains can reduce casualties by around 42 per cent on routes where they are sited.
There is a famous episode of Yes, Prime Minister where Jim Hacker appoints a chain smoker as the Health Minister. Presumably, Tony Blair had this is mind when he gave the road safety job to Ladyman. The paper states that the minister has been caught three times by speed cameras and once had nine points on his licence.
Ladyman, the road safety minister, hailing Hammond, 36, as an 'adventurer,' said the programme did not encourage speeding among young men.
Mary Williams, chief executive of national road safety charity Brake, said: 'We are alarmed and disappointed that our road safety minister is taking the time to defend Top Gear which quite blatantly glamorises fast cars and in fact knocks the government's very own speed enforcement. Research quite clearly shows that drivers' attitudes can be influenced by the messages similar to that which Top Gear can promote.
'We also feel that distress was an inappropriately strong word to use, given the distress suffered by families affected by road death and injury caused by speeding drivers.
The charity believes that the credibility of Ladyman should also be questioned, particularly because Top Gear 'mocks' speed cameras which Brake maintains can reduce casualties by around 42 per cent on routes where they are sited.
There is a famous episode of Yes, Prime Minister where Jim Hacker appoints a chain smoker as the Health Minister. Presumably, Tony Blair had this is mind when he gave the road safety job to Ladyman. The paper states that the minister has been caught three times by speed cameras and once had nine points on his licence.
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If it is true that he has been fined for speeding severaol times oiver then that is a pretty good reason for him to not be given the post.
The idea that he shouldn't be given the job just because he defends a TV programme is ridiculous.
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The idea that he shouldn't be given the job just because he defends a TV programme is ridiculous.
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