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Does the noble lord prefer coffee or tranquilisers?
Page 26
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I HAVE just read the article on singlecarriageway speed limits (CM 14 July). Lord Berkeley advises that frustrated drivers held up by HGVs travelling at the legal speed limit should stop and have a cup of coffee or take a tranquilliser". Can you imagine the headlines? Driver acquitted of driving under the influence of drugs — mitigating circumstances..."1 was frustrated your honour."
Presumably one might be able to cite the same defence after a couple of whiskies. can only assume that Lord Berkeley has never driven a lorry on roads such as Ilminster bypass, where at 40mph, 99% of car drivers consider you to be a traffic hazard that requires overtaking at once, preferably in the most suicidal manner possible.
1 fully understand his first statement that "faster is not safer". Unfortunately, unless all the other drivers on the road can be retrained, we still have to live in the real world.
When this hypothetical driver is stuck behind a truck he cannot overtake, he stops for his coffee or tranquilliser (does he have a financial interest in Little Chef?), drives on again and immediately gets stuck behind the next truck. So presumably he has more coffee, sees the next truck... etc.
Could CM please ask Lord Berkeley if his personal preference is for coffee or tranquillisers? And if it is the latter does he ever consider himself fit to drive?
Peter Coker Sherbertnn Transport Devon