Safe Speed Forums

Its seems to me that Jeremy Clarkson would be the definitive honorary president for Safespeed - has he ever visited or been approached about this website?
And just imagine the impact of a scientifically conducted expose on Top Gear to corroborate the findings of Paul's research. They could even hold a mock public enquiry, appoint the British Public as Jury,and invite viewers to take part in a phone-in referendum...

Have a look at this link: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/PMClarkson/

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Dave Lucas

Whilst Jeremy Clarkson is amusing and occasionally makes good points, I think to publicly endorse his antics would kill the credibility of this campaign.

Yes there is some crossover, but I doubt that SS could really support people who drive into ancient oak trees and all the other things that environmentalists tend to bring up every time his name is mentioned.

That said, co-operating with Top Gear to present the safe speed argument in a segment on the show would be a good idea, if it could be arranged. Not sure we could make it funny enough though.

James May would be the ideal candidate,

He's recently passed favourable comment on Paul's work and is known as 'Captain Slow' what a better antedote to the road hog charges levelled at Safe Speed.

His star is rising IMHO

Yes. The larger than life Clarkson persona would be a negative association for us.

Top Gear is an entertainment show and we're not entertainers. We're boring gits by their standards.

But maybe one day the anger will be high enough that the sledgehammer of truth will be entertainment in its own right.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

please god ... nooooooo



even worse!

Agree with the others. Clarkson is an entertainer but I don't think anyone really takes him seriously as a "motoring expert". I certainly don't! It could easily have a negative impact. I agree with the principle though - someone famous but more generally acceptable perhaps.

I agree with that. To be honest I don't think JC's general style is likely to be helpful to our cause. It's all very well being a rebel (I say in my own defence) but sometimes you can find you've stirred up more opposition, and that's not what we need.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

We could do with a more mature version of clarkson. How about someone like Jason Plato? Or Jon Bentley? Someone high up in the institute of advanced motorists or even ROSPA would also be a good choice.

Whoever it is needs to have a good driving record with a clean licence and have a safe driving history to have the most credibility. Penny Mallory might be another suitable candidate.

I've never heard of any of them! I think Paul himself has a higher media profile than they do! But yes, I'm sure that the credibility of safespeed would be advanced by enlisting the support of IAM/RoSPA. Or perhaps a senior police officer. They might take a bit of convincing though!

It would be interesting to find out how broad is the visitorship to this forum. Is there anyone reading this who does hold such sway - or have a social connection to someone who does?

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Dave Lucas

Not really into cars are you?

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Driving fast is for a particular time and place, I can do it I just only do it occasionally because I am a gentleman.
- James May

MRTD demonstrates a good point here. We need someone who is well known to the public - not just the petrolheads.

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Malcolm W.
The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not represent the views of Safespeed.

Oh I dunno! That Meredydd Hughes chap might have a different outlook on the whole situation soon!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7069289.stm

How about one of the following:

John Stalker
Sir Stirling Moss
Sir David Steele (a motoring enthusiast and an experienced driver)
Jimmy McCrae (another Scot!)
Sir Paul Condon (ex-Met Commissioner and a motoring enthusiast)

or Blunderstorm, soory Blunstrom

The whole fiasco with speed cameras is crazy enough to be funny if put across correctly. If a segment was done, similar to the level crossing safety one that Top Gear did, which used humour to make a serious point, it could be effective.

Perhaps a segment along the lines of "whatever your problem, a camera is the answer" could work, if written well.

If Paul was to go on the news section of Top Gear it would be brilliant publicity for the campaign, rather than just being endorsed by Clarkson himself. TG argued a very similar point to SS a few years ago, even mentioning TRL's:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvtvfSJi2fg

Given the upmost honour of being told 'Paul Smith is the only one talking any sense' by James May last week, I'm sure a few well argued emails to the production team with this in mind may lead to a few minutes on the programme.

Also, with the presenters likely to be highly sympathetic, and having a large say in the shows content, whats to say that it would be impossible.

Regardless of whether it slightly damages the campaigns reputation by going on a predominantly entertainment programme with silly car stunts, a well rounded argument by Paul on the most watched show on BBC2 (and I think BBC World Service) could bring such publicity and support to the campaign that it actually makes the government seriously stop and listen. They had to stop and listen when 1 and a bit million people voted against road pricing (again Top Gears Richard Hammond taking political motoring opinion to the PM), imagine if even a quarter of the viewers sat up and signed a new ScrapCam petition. That would be 2 million people.

My Vote is: .............NO!

Jeremy is; "amusing" and I NEVER miss "TOP GEAR" and I'm a FAN! But he's not a representative for my beliefs..

He fails in several ways;...............He "enjoys" being the clown" which excludes him from serious debate. Nothing wrong there "I" believe, but for the wider Public?....... No!

He represents an "affluent [track day] elite who likes to take their performance cars to an airfield to rag the A.... off 'em on a Sunday! NOT me, an average Guy working 8 till 5 for next to Sod All!

In short: "He's a privaliged Pratt".............



Oh!...............

an' in case you're thinkin' that I'm some kind o' 'eanvious underclass moron.

My 4ltr XJ8 is running fine thanks, I love it, and SOD Gordon Brown!.....

I'd choose someone in the genre of Mark Thomas.

Really though if 'change' is required I think you would need to involve the political process rather than create more commentary. There are plenty of talking heads but very little action.

Carol McGiffin, LBC and Loose Women, would seem to be against speed cameras from some of the comments she has made on her radio slot on LBC.

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Driving fast is for a particular time and place, I can do it I just only do it occasionally because I am a gentleman.
- James May