Thursday February 5, 2004

UK SYSTEM FAILS ROAD SAFETY

Front page headlines claiming drivers face a UK ban for speeding in France have been condemned as 'emotive scaremongering' brought about failings in the British system.

According to Maurice Carroll of winedrive.com, the French gendarmerie has always had the option to inform Swansea of driving offences in France - they just chose not to because the UK authorities do nothing.

"HGV drivers have fallen foul of this rule from as far back as the early '90s," he said. "The reason for the crackdown on speeding and other offences is the on-going carnage on French roads. Those of us who live and work in France see it on a daily basis. To say French drivers are treated more leniently is a fallacy. Speeding French drivers face a day in jail for re-education which does not happen to foreigners. They just get a fine."

He added the English motorist in France benefits from very light traffic, few queues, cheap fuel, cheap hotels, fantastic food and the worlds finest wine. "I have no sympathy with those who break the law and get caught. It is not that the Brits are the worst offenders, but they are certainly ‘whinging poms’ when it comes to breaking motoring laws.

"The option to report British motorists has been around for years. The fact that the UK authorities rarely take foreign offenders to court is no reason to complain when France tries to enforce the system to reduce its accident rate. This is just more emotive scaremongering unfairly targeting the French."

Ends

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