Brake condemns Top Gear and Clarkson
Brake, the national road safety charity, says it is 'shocked and appalled' by the BBC's airing of comments made by Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson on 28 January.
Following clips of Richard Hammond crashing a vehicle at high speed, Clarkson said, 'speed kills' pointing to Hammond (who survived the crash).
Jools Townsend, head of education at Brake, said: "Clarkson's comment was highly irresponsible and offensive to anyone who has been bereaved or injured at the hands of a speeding driver.
"Hammond's crash was carried out under test conditions at an airfield. He was driving a purpose-built off-road vehicle with specially designed safety features and was wearing protective clothing and a crash helmet. He was extremely fortunate to have made a full recovery - many people injured in crashes are not so lucky.
"A shockingly disproportionate number of young male drivers are dying on our roads and it is highly irresponsible for the BBC to allow Top Gear, with its target audience of young males, to openly make light the deadly act of speeding."
Brake intends to compile evidence of irresponsible dialogue and footage from Top Gear to present to the newly formed BBC Trust, which represents the interest of the licence fee-paying public. For further information contact Dianne Ferreira, dferreira@brake.org.uk . 
02.10.06 - Road safety minister backs Top Gear
19.06.06 - Report says Top Gear 'glorifies speed' |
