Speed limit high jinks

· By: Drivers.com staff
· Date: 2005-11-13

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In the UK last month a milk truck driver convicted of warning motorists of a speed trap ahead had his conviction overturned by a High Court. Government prosecutors had argued that the purpose of the trap was to catch people, so driver Charles Glendinning had obstructed police in their duties.

So, are speed traps about catching people or are they about slowing traffic? Interesting question. Police forces sometimes send information about speed traps to the media because (they say) it helps slow traffic. Selective Traffic Enforcement Programs (STEPs) are a strategy in which police forces target a particular area at a particular time (major highways on a holiday weekend, for example) and run a media campaign to let the public know about their upcoming enforcement blitz.

So what did Glendinning do that was so different?

Not much, according to High Court Lord Justice Scott Baker. "What's the difference between Mr Glendinning's arm signal and a sign warning motorists of speed cameras," he asked. Mr Justice Owen suggested that some people might think the police would appreciate "the efforts of others to prevent speeding".

Police argued that Glendinning was obstructing them in their work, but this was rejected by the High Court on the grounds that there was no evidence that drivers had heeded Mr. Glendinning's warnings.

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