Sometime tomorrow the powers that represent the UK within the European Union will either sign up to, or decline, participation in an EU directive that will mean motorists who break the driving laws abroad could, from 2013, be accountable for their actions as if they were a local citizen.
In other words, it’ll be a case of when in Rome, you will be treated as if Roman. Which, if you happen to find yourself in Helsinki instead of Rome for some reason, could mean massive fines for things like speeding.
Witness the case of mobile phone mogul and local resident of Helsinki, Anssi Vanjoki, who was caught riding his Harley (which makes him a bit of a fool anyway) at 47mph in a 31mph limit. For this not especially heinous transgression against the Finnish state, the former boss of Nokia was asked to cough up 116,000 euros – which at the time represented the equivalent of 14 days salary, which is how they means test you for speeding fines in Finland – although the actual amount he ended up paying was reduced somewhat following an appeal.
Point is, if we sign up to the scheme there will be no more small roadside fines or ticking-offs for UK motorsists who flout the law on foreign roads. Same will go for drivers who run red lights or use mobile phones, or who pick up parking tickets, break the crash helmet laws or use the hard shoulder abroad. Fines (but not licence punishments, not to begin with at any rate) will be handed out just as they would to local residents – via a central data bank that will enable police forces to treat all the EU’s motorists as if they were one of their own.
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Speeding
If you are a law abiding citizen just like me, then you should nt be worried about anything.
Last week I was driving through a 40mph zone. I saw a man standing on the side of the road for an opportunity to cross. I saw the man, then became more aware about my speed. So keeping a foot on the brake I looked at the speedometer to check my speed. Since it was sunny, the speedo was not really clear. So it took a couple of seconds for me to realize my speed. I was traveling at exactly 40mph.
Then Guess what. The person on the road thought I was going to stop for him and he crossed the road. I followed all the protocols (look at all mirrors, indicate, brake slowly). The was a car behind tailgating me. When I braked he closed in the gap. So I had to release the brake. Then I could stop with in 1 or 2 inches from the person. Luckily I was not hit as well. The guy was really shaken.
But then I told, " Dude, I am sorry. But it is safe to get killed by a vehicle traveling at 40mph and I took all the reasonable safety precautions (and followed braking procedures as well.)".
It was okay to hit him at 40mph. Is nt it? My safety first after I got a ticket. Focus on the speedometer.... focus on the speedometer.... focus on the speedometer. Then follow braking procedure to stop. Otherwise you would get hit or you would get a ticket because you might be doing 43mph. Beware guys...