http://www.carkeys.co.uk/news/2007/january/30/12360.asp
Top Gear Criticised
(Tue 30 Jan 07)
Television programme Top Gear has been criticised within hours of showing footage of Richard Hammond's jet car crash.
Road safety charity brake describes itself as "shocked and appalled" by the programme, particularly the part where presenter Jeremy Clarkson saying "Speed kills" and pointing at the very much still alive Hammond.
"Clarkson's comment was highly irresponsible and offensive to anyone who has been bereaved or injured at the hands of a speeding driver," says Brake's Head of Education, Jools Townsed. "In 2005, exceeding the speed limit or going too fast for the conditions was a contributory factor in almost a third of fatal crashes in Great Britain.
"Hammond's crash was carried out under test conditions at an airfield. Richard Hammond was driving a purpose-built off-road vehicle with specially-designed safety features and Richard himself was wearing protective clothing and a crash helmet. He was extremely fortunate to have made a full recovery - many people injured in crashes are not so lucky.
"A shockingly disproportionate number of young male drivers are dying on our roads and it is highly irresponsible for the BBC to allow Top Gear, with its target audience of young males, to openly make light the deadly act of speeding."
Brake will be complaining about the programme to the BBC Trust. Meanwhile, a counter-challenge comes from Paul Smith of Safe Speed, who describes Brake as being "CONSTANTLY irresponsible over speed".
Smith stresses that road skills and driver attitude are more important than sticking to speed limits. "If Brake wants safer roads - and I believe that they do - then they must concentrate on fostering and developing skilled and responsible behaviour from all road users. Vehicle speeds have very little to do with it, and the 'speed kills' slogan is dangerously versimplified - it's just about the first thing we need to throw out to get road safety back on track."
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