News and views with James Tute - every Friday in the EchoDon't get angry, but...
First published April 11, 2008
I WAS feeling a bit grouchy last week.
Partly due to getting another year older and partly due to a flurry of minor irritations which, added together, turned me into a grumpy old man for a few days.
But although I was what you might call "quite angry" a few times, I was never actually furious.
Which, for the sake my ability to drive legally, was very lucky.
You see I've just stumbled across a driving offence I'd never heard of in several years of writing about motoring and crime - including many hours sat on the bottom-torturingly uncomfortable press bench of various courtrooms.
It's called Furious Driving and according to sources which I can't really name (alright, I admit it - I just looked on the internet) you can get up to two years in prison, an unlimited fine and nine penalty points on your licence for it.
Which makes it a serious offence in the hierarchy of driving misdemeanours.
But has anyone been done for it in living memory?
I don't know yet - but I do intend to try to find out.
What I do know is the charge originates in the 19th century, applying to horse-drawn carriages to start with, then motor vehicles.
It seems to be a combination of speeding, driving without due care and attention and injuring someone.
So not quite the "getting behind the wheel when you're in a bad mood" it's name implies.
Which is lucky - there's so much of that about the police wouldn't know where to start.
You've got to feel a bit sorry for the A12.
Not only does it bear the brunt of thousands of commuters every day, it has now been suggested it might be the worst road in Britain.
That comes from Lord Hanningfield, leader of Essex County Council, which is preparing to hold an inquiry into why this particular stretch of road can't behave itself properly.
I think I can save them the trouble - it's a (not particularly well-maintained) A-road trying to do the job of a motorway.
9:43am Friday 11th April 2008
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