Watching thrilling stunts in computer games, TV shows and Hollywood films encourage drivers towards a dangerous culture of speeding, according to a new report.
A Co-operative Insurance survey found that high-speed movie chases and programmes such as Top Gear have built up a “cachet of excitement and glamour around speeding.”
In the survey, over one third of drivers aged 17-18 and one fourth of those in the age group of 19-21, said that they break the speed limit at least once in a single day.
“Many of the most serious collisions are caused, or their consequences exacerbated, because of someone driving well in excess of the speed limit,” The Daily Express quoted road safety minister Jim Fitzpatrick as saying at the launch.
He added: “Research shows that one in seven people is an extreme speeder. These people are playing Russian roulette with their lives and those of others.”
The report demonstrated that a majority of people think that driving only becomes irresponsible when they break the speed limit by 10mph or even 20mph.
Co-operative Insurance executive David Neave said: “We need to create the same stigma for speeding that exists now against drink-driving.”
{{/usCountry}}Co-operative Insurance executive David Neave said: “We need to create the same stigma for speeding that exists now against drink-driving.”
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