Speeding traffic cop highlights speed law issues
Date: 26 November 2007
The appearance in court of a senior police chief on speeding charges underlines the fact that the speed limit does not necessarily promote road safety for courier drivers and other motorists.
Med Hughes, the chief constable of South Yorkshire, is considered the top traffic policeman because of his position as the chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers road safety committee.
However, he was caught speeding at 90mph in a 60mph zone.
Many argue that such speed limits are often unnecessary, hindering courier drivers in carrying out their deliveries.
Paul Smith of Safe Speed, a road safety organisation, said: "Mr Hughes' hypocrisy is absolutely breathtaking. He has been promoting speed enforcement as a means of improving road safety, but clearly does not believe his safety was compromised by ignoring the speeding laws.
"I want Mr Hughes to tell the truth. I want Mr Hughes to admit that under appropriate circumstances driving at 90mph in a 60mph zone is not dangerous."
He also suggested that speed cameras have exposed speeding laws as "a false target" that unnecessarily slow down motorists, such as couriers and owner drivers carrying loads.
"While it is clearly important that no one should drive too fast, the speed limit cannot tell us what too fast is," he concluded.
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