Safe Speed Forums

Ashley Cole banned from driving for doing more than 100mph in a 50mph zone
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 4:07 PM on 29th January 2010
England footballer Ashley Cole was today banned from driving for doing more than 100mph in a 50mph zone.
The Chelsea star claimed he was being chased by paparazzi when a speed gun recorded him driving his black Lamborghini Gallardo at 104mph.
Magistrates at Kingston today imposed a four-month ban and £1,000 fine.
His defence barrister asked for 21 days to pay, which magistrates laughed at but granted.
However, Cole's legal team immediately launched a bid against the ban which will be considered later.
Ashley Cole, seen here with Cheryl in December, has been banned from driving for four months
Cole, who is married to singer and presenter Cheryl Cole, was on the A3 in Kingston, Surrey, when he was clocked speeding.
Despite denying the charge, he was convicted at an earlier hearing.
Today chairwoman Patricia Baskerville said: 'We have taken into account Mr Cole's clean licence however this was an incident of excessive speed, over twice the speed limit on the road and these were exceptional circumstances which we need to mark.
'For the offence of speeding, Mr Cole will be disqualified for a period of four months and will pay a fine of £1,000.'
He was also ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge and £300 costs to reflect his income and the seriousness of the offence.
Cole, who was not present, was warned if he did drive while disqualified, he could face prison.
Cole's lawyer Katherine Hodson said her client was 'regrettably' unable to attend the hearing because he was playing a match tomorrow night and would be travelling today.
An attempt by her to get sentencing adjourned was rejected.

Cole was driving a black Lamborghini Gallardo when he was clocked driving at over 100mph. The footballer told police he thought he was driving at 80mph.
At the earlier hearing, Richard Lomax, prosecuting, described the events of November 17 2008.
He said: 'The defendant was stopped and spoken to and the words he said at the time, when it became plain that somebody was pointing a speed camera at him, were "Can't you do anything about those idiots who keep chasing me?".'
Cole told police he thought he was driving at 80mph when he was stopped just after midday.
Mr Lomax said: 'The Crown says there can be no other sensible construction of the words uttered by Mr Cole at the time than that he was conceding he was driving at a speed more than 50mph.
'It is plain that he found the attention of persons with cameras unwelcome and he was trying to get away from them.
'The only sensible inference, therefore, is that he was going too quickly.'

He added: 'It cannot be a defence to the offence of speeding that one is trying to get away in the circumstances of members of the press showing excessive attention.'
Traffic officer John Wills, of Surrey Police, who was carrying out speed checks on Robin Hood Way that day, said he noticed Cole's car because 'it seemed to be travelling considerably faster' than any other vehicle.
PC Wills and a colleague got into a police car after recording his speed and Cole pulled over in a nearby bus stop.
Cole was asked to get out of the car by PC Wills, who told the court: 'I asked him if he knew what the speed limit was on that stretch of road, and he replied 50.
'Then I asked him what speed he was doing, and he said 80mph. I pointed out he was doing considerably more than that and showed him the laser device.'
The officer said that after being cautioned, Cole complained about photographers.
PC Wills said: 'He pointed out that there was a man with a camera some distance further down the road.
'I saw him (the photographer) at that time, but I had no idea when he turned up. He was certainly not in evidence when I first saw the Lamborghini.'
The 29-year-old, of Godalming, Surrey, did not attend court for his trial earlier this month.

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If he feared for his safety I wonder why he failed to place a call to the Police ? Feared the Police might not respond ?

The Chelsea star claimed he was being chased by paparazzi when a speed gun recorded him driving his black Lamborghini Gallardo at 104mph.

Surely the likes of Ashley Cole are sufficiently wealthy that they can afford to employ a chauffeur for any routine A-B journeys.

as he may have been driving safely on a road that might have been a 3 lane carriageway where 70mph used to be the assigned speed

There are parts of the A3 that have "warning pedestrians crossing" signs on it.

And can we stop asserting that driving at 100mph, or 70mph, or 50mph is ever safe? It's an incredible speed to propel a one-two tonne vehicle at, if anything untoward happens it's highly likely there will be serious injury or death involved.

Are there any parts that are dual carriageway with a speed limit of 50 mph or above that have such signs?

Ah, so we need to bring back the red flag law, do we?

How are pedestrians supposed to work out when to cross if people driving cars use such a wide range of speeds?

.

There are parts of the A3 that have "warning pedestrians crossing" signs on it.

How are pedestrians supposed to work out when to cross if people driving cars use such a wide range of speeds?

And can we stop asserting that driving at 100mph, or 70mph, or 50mph is ever safe?

It's an incredible speed to propel a one-two tonne vehicle at

, if anything untoward happens it's highly likely there will be serious injury or death involved.

If 100mph was the standard speed down there there would be a much higher rate of incidents.

I certainly remember it that way.

Why?

I regulary drive at 50, 60 and 70mph on such roads.

But I wouldn't describe it as safe to do such speeds, assumption being the mother of all cockups and all.

Maybe you should go back and take another look.

The road ( that black bit of tarmac ) recieves a lot of money from the motoring public ( and a high percentage of it never finds it's way back)
-yet we get constantly bleated by p**taking pedestrians ,who at best only pay some shrunk payment ( known as council tax),toward roads/pavements etc .I'd suggest if they don't like the deal ,we introduce a pedestrian pavement tax ,with VRN on foreheads ,where non payers get put into the pound ,policed by a system like ANPR.

The road ( that black bit of tarmac ) recieves a lot of money from the motoring public

Maybe you should go back and take another look.

If you don't think it's safe, why do you do it? Surely you must think it, in Steve's phrase, "acceptably safe".

[And can we stop asserting that driving at 100mph, or 70mph, or 50mph is ever safe? It's an incredible speed to propel a one-two tonne vehicle at, if anything untoward happens it's highly likely there will be serious injury or death involved.

Everything in life involves a degree of risk, and we make subconscious risk/benefit analyses all the time as to whether the benefit justifies the risk exposure. You have effectively admitted as much yourself.

Nice one.