If you’re confused, let me allay that sensation of not quite knowing what I’m talking about. A couple claim to have taken a photograph of the (in)famous Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear fame whilst he’s chatting away on his mobile. Adam Blake and Hayley Byford say that they saw Clarkson the phone as he travelled along the M40.
Clarkson’s vehicle of choice for this potential driving misdemeanour was a 1970’s 6.3 litre green Grosser Mercedes. A rare vehicle indeed, apparently. I certainly couldn’t find one for sale after hearing about it. Apparently, Ms Byford took a picture of Clarkson, who later when questioned by the The Mirror said “Er, that isn’t a phone”. I would like to add that I hope she wasn’t the driver out of the two of them…
To give some idea of the penalty for this sort of dangerous driving, it comes with a £60 fine and three points, only twelve of which will see your license revoked. Of course, it is now proven that talking (or texting) on a mobile is a dangerous activity in that it distracts you from the road. It’s more dangerous apparently than eating an apple or smoking, though you might not be exempt from a fine by doing those either.
I decided to write this article as I’m a fan of Clarkson – big JC is a highlight of my Sunday night when Top Gear is on (even if James May is my favourite) but I can’t help but be concerned that he’s legitimising bad behaviour behind the wheel. Of course there’s a place for speeding and that’s the track. However, there’s no place for dangerous driving.
I’m sure we’re all guilty of general motoring misdemeanour charges now and then – whether it’s speeding or parking where you shouldn’t. I would certainly recommend however that you don’t do what Clarkson looks like he has done here – it would only take a momentary slip and someone to drift in front of you to have a very serious accident indeed.
Returning to the crime for the last time, I guess what really annoys me is that I hold Clarkson up as a bit of a hero, not least because he hates poor driving and has previously ridiculed those on mobiles in cars. We’re all guilty of something of some time, but one can only hope that it isn’t true and that Clarkson is returning soon to shout “Powerrrrr!” from a fast car on the TG track.
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