Safe Speed Forums

So, did anyone see Ladyman's appearance on Top Gear tonight? He trotted out the usual line about cameras saving lives, Clarkson made some good points that we've seen on here a few times, and got the usual replies.

I got the sense that Dr Ladyman doesn't really believe in cameras himself but is having to tow the party line.

I fed Top Gear all the important information in preparation for the Ladyman interview. They asked me for camera information and I sent them about 10 carefully prepared pages of information and issues.

Did you hear Clarkson start on the RTTM story? But he just trailed off.

What a wasted opportunity.

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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

you will have to go on your self... how is your fastest lap?

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Speed limit sign radio interview. TV Snap Unhappy
“It has never been the rule in this country – I hope it never will be - that suspected criminal offences must automatically be the subject of prosecution” He added that there should be a prosecution: “wherever it appears that the offence or the circumstances of its commission is or are of such a character that a prosecution in respect thereof is required in the public interest”
This approach has been endorsed by Attorney General ever since 1951. CPS Code

I'm not sure they really saw it as an 'interview', more of a chat with a chance to put him on the spot over a contentious issue. Thats sound-bite entertainment TV for you <shrug>



Most of the audience wouldn't even have realised what he was on about. And they had the 'lap in a reasonably priced car' to get onto which is the prime reason for that segment of the show. As I said, this is a light entertainment show, not investigative journalism, a serious debate on speed cameras was never really likely to break out.

That's definitely not the way the researcher I was dealing with saw it. We talked again and again about a golden opportunity.

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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

I'd be glad to if invited. In fact I'd agree like a shot. But I'm not a 'star' am I? Give me a couple more years at this rate.

Fastest lap? Should be OK I think.

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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

Yes it's such a shame that RTTM was missed out, as I really don't think it's a difficult concept to grasp. I also agree that I don't think Ladyman really believes they work, but will not bring the whole thing crashing down and so toes the party line.

I thought clarkson did well, because in the end Ladyman had to resort to. If you don't break the speed limit, then whats your problem.

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Oct 11 Birmingham Half Marathon. I am running for the British Heart Foundation.
http://www.justgiving.com/Rob-Taylor

Ladyman seems pretty sure that the new report will back the scammers claims that they are effective.

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Less Kodak, more Kojak.
In times of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

I think it went well for an entertainment program. You could issue a press release asking why ladyman still hasn't issued the fourth report. The acid test on the program will be the office chat monday morning.

I thought ladyman lost the argument on the "cameras are working " question.

And the rest of the government didn't know he was going on.

and he has 9 points (6 more than me!)

He also
mentioned he'd suggested his wife takes his points
OOP's admitting considering perverting the course
of justice on national TV.


EDIT: there was also that bit about the Aston Martin being able to stop in half the official stoping distance :

It would be good to type in a transcript of the program so it becomes long term record

(so it can be quoted back at him)

I think it went better than you perceived

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Speed limit sign radio interview. TV Snap Unhappy
“It has never been the rule in this country – I hope it never will be - that suspected criminal offences must automatically be the subject of prosecution” He added that there should be a prosecution: “wherever it appears that the offence or the circumstances of its commission is or are of such a character that a prosecution in respect thereof is required in the public interest”
This approach has been endorsed by Attorney General ever since 1951. CPS Code

I thought Clarkson "got 'im" when he pointed out he had a clean licence, thus completely wiping out Ladyman's line of attack about vested interests, and him being on 9 points made him look a bit awkward.

I also felt there was a nice undercurrent of hypocrisy there, when this clown is telling us speed cameras are good for us and is then shown exiting backwards into the scenery!

But yes, I couldn't believe the way that JC let him off the hook on the RTTM thing - I can only conclude that he didn't fully understand the concept himself and thus didn't spot the opportunity that was handed to him on a plate, when Ladyman stated in response to the RTTM question that 4 KSIs were needed to justify a camera. That precisely proved the point, and if he'd pointed that out he'd have nailed him!

Whilst it seemed like SL was very "brave" going on Top Gear, on reflection I think it was more of a case of a desperate act to try and win the PR battle, in fact he more or less admitted they've lost the fight!

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CSCP Latin for beginners...
Ticketo ergo sum : I scam therefore I am!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 95,00.html

Road safety minister dents his pride in high-speed Top Gear crash

Viewers of Top Gear can watch the road safety minister showing off his driving skills tonight — as he spins off a test track at 80mph.

Stephen Ladyman crashed into a wall of tyres while taking part in the BBC2 show’s Star In A Reasonably Priced Car section, in which celebrities do a timed circuit in a Suzuki Liana saloon.

“He lifted his foot off the accelerator at the wrong moment,” says presenter Jeremy Clarkson. “It was very funny to watch the road safety minister reversing into a pile of tyres.”

Ladyman, who normally drives an Alfa Romeo 156 and once had nine points on his licence, won’t reveal exactly what happened but admits: “Their car is not worth quite as much as it was when I got into it. I was too frightened to look at the speedometer.” In a previous series, a blind driver successfully completed the circuit.

Despite being referred to by Top Gear as Ladyboy, the minister defends Clarkson from his critics. “Jeremy isn’t encouraging people to break the speed limit,” he says. “He hasn’t even had any speeding tickets. I think the Liberal Democrats and the environmental people who have a pop at him are too precious, to be frank.”

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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

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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

I think he was on 6 points not long ago, down from 9. So he has picked up another three recently. Has he?



Absolutely. Anyone? Pretty please!

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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

Clarkson's retort about a clean licence was excellent, I am surprised Ladyman didn't go red at any point, must be an essential thing in an MP's training! If I was him I would snap back with "well you are just better than me at not getting caught"


Yes, I was very surprised, I wouldn't expect him to have treated it in that way, I would expect a jokey remark and then a comment that it would be a serious criminal offence and that it should never be done, but he actually joined in the joke and didn't make any other comment.

Very Naughty, not just for him to effectively condone it but to perpetuate the myth that it is something that is not treated extremely seriously by the police.

The SCP's give one appearance of not caring who takes the points, but when a 9-pointer (such as Ladyman) nominates somebody else as the driver they then seem to take a much closer interest...

Gareth

Before somebody wears their fingers out let me see if I can find some subtitle logging software and run it during the repeat....

Clarkson started the RTTM but Ladyman basically interrupted him and steered him away from it I felt. I don't think it was entirely down to JC. I could tell Ladyboy was squirming anyway. I found his admission of how only stupid people get caught because the cameras are orange etc quite amusing. Best bit was to see that gatso go off on the track and he didn't even notice

...and then he said it wasn't a forward facing camera so how could they tell it was him. You could almost hear the collective groan from all the GATSO-owning scamera managers around the nation, as they anticipate a corresponding blip in the numbers of s172 defences...

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CSCP Latin for beginners...
Ticketo ergo sum : I scam therefore I am!

I thought clarkson was quite hard on him, for what top gear is, a light entertainment show. not saying he shouldn't have torn him to shreds, just that it wasn't going to happen there and then and I was quite suprised he went as far as he did, but the usual politician bullcrap waffle wore him down.

all in all, I did get the impression there was a real person underneath smothered by political ambitions/pension concerns resulting in just another yes man doing and saying what he's told, feathering his own nest and f*ck everyone trodden on the way.

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Fear is a weapon of mass distraction

RTTM is for decision makers, times telegraph and radio 4. It has its place! You might get it in the express and mail. It is not for sun, star and Mirror readers and those who don't do maths. Don't expect to get that concept over to more than 30% of the public.

70% of the public don't understand the interest rate on their credit card. The same people won't understand RTTM.

(RTTM may have been above Ladyman! he couldn’t understand the other data?)

It was Jezza Clarkson not Paxman after all. He bottled out and lifted on the corner.

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Speed limit sign radio interview. TV Snap Unhappy
“It has never been the rule in this country – I hope it never will be - that suspected criminal offences must automatically be the subject of prosecution” He added that there should be a prosecution: “wherever it appears that the offence or the circumstances of its commission is or are of such a character that a prosecution in respect thereof is required in the public interest”
This approach has been endorsed by Attorney General ever since 1951. CPS Code