THOU SHALT NOT SPEED

Switzerland, the motorist’s hellhole – famous for chocolate, cheese and a complete intolerance toward speeders.

So you wouldn’t be surprised if I said that the country had passed a new law sanctioning capital punishment for anyone caught even thinking about breaking the speed limit. But you might be surprised, as were I, to hear that our European neighbours have installed a new road calming initiative called the ‘road angel’.

So what is the road angel? A fluffy name for a new speed camera? The PR’s idea on how to tackle speed enforcement stereotypes? No…it’s a guy, dressed as an angel who spends all day by the side of the road waving at speeders. I know…I’m as shocked as you! Here’s the guy in action:

But this fella isn’t the local nut job, he’s actually paid quite handsomely to do this as part of an advertising campaign called ‘Slow Down. Take It Easy’. Here he is in action again:

I appreciate the Swiss’ attempts to mix things up and admire the way they’ve applied a marketing message to the roadside – the simple bizarre nature of this guy would slow me down alone. But I wonder what Britain’s alternative would be?

We all know Gordon Brown needs a new job? Or perhaps a Page 3 model with a placard? Maybe even Jenson Button pumping his fist in the air whilst screaming, “slow down…..baby!”

Of course not, how’s that going to generate cash (for further road calming measures)? No, we’re quite happy with our ‘road demons’ – men and women camped in their mobile fortresses with their faces hidden behind the lens of a camera. When there’s no more room in hell…the dead shall police the roads.

By Chris Sweetman of Sweetmans Solicitors, specialists in defending drink driving, speeding, parking and dangerous driving offences.