Motoring lawyer Nick Freeman, famously known as ‘Mr Loophole’ for his ability to overturn the driving offences of high-profile celebrities, has apparently criticised women drivers and called slow drivers ‘a menace’.
Mr Loophole helps Clarkson escape driving ban
In his latest newspaper column, Freeman congratulates transport minister Phillip Hammond for proposing to increase the motorway speed limit to 80mph. It’s safe and sensible, he says, because ‘today’s cars are built with speed, safety and economy in mind’.
‘Speed does not kill,’ Freeman wrote in the Manchester Evening News. ‘Bad driving does. And that includes going too slowly and being in the wrong lane.’
Mr Loophole saves Corrie actor from ban
Controversially though, Freeman suggested it is women that are at fault for driving too slowly – and called for the police to go one step further and start prosecuting them.
‘Why can’t these women be prosecuted?’, wrote Freeman, in what appears to be a cheeky dig at women drivers that’s sure to stir up controversy.
He did quickly correct himself, writing: ‘Oops. I mean, why don’t the police start to prosecute this kind of unlawful driving.’
It is therefore not clear if Freeman is being mischievous or serious in his apparent criticism of women drivers: however, even his broader point that slow drivers should be penalised on the motorway has not impressed safety campaigners.
Andrew Howard, head of road safety at the AA, told the Daily Mail that ‘we can’t criticise people for being slow drivers.
‘Parliament requires lorries to do 56mph so we cannot tell anyone off for going that speed.’
Freeman adds that although Hammond deserves praise in raising the speed limit, he would go a step further and make it 90mph – ‘but, like the French, have a variable limit in inclement weather’.
What do you make about Nick ‘Mr Loophole’ Freeman’s thoughts on women drivers and the UK national speed limit?
