BOOK KENT HOTELS

First Speeding Fine in Britain

Paddock Wood, Kent The 28th of January 1896 AD

The second half of the 1890s was a significant period for motorised transport in this country: in 1895 the first motoring offence was registered; the following year the first pedestrian was killed by a horseless carriage; and in 1898 the first driver – at the controls of a vehicle doing the crazy speed of 17mph – was killed. It was to stop such mad behaviour that speed restrictions had been brought into force.
Their first victim was a Mr Arnold from East Peckham, spotted travelling at a heady 8mph – four times the legal limit - in his Benz automobile by a vigilant constable in Paddock Wood. The constable chased down the lunatic speedster on his bicycle, a five mile pursuit sadly never to be seen on TV.
Arnold was fined 1s by Tonbridge magistrates. One wonders what fine or jail sentence a speed of four times the limit – say 280mph on a motorway - would lead to now?

More famous dates here

23073 views since 6th January 2011

Brit Quote:
Selfishness is the greatest curse of the human race. - W E Gladstone
More Quotes

On this day:
Battle of Poitiers - 1356, Great Plague of London at its Height - 1665, 'Lord Haw-Haw' sentenced to death - 1945, First Traffic Wardens in London - 1960, First Glastonbury - 1970, First Episode of Fawlty Towers - 1975, Murder of Carl Bridgewater - 1978, Southall Train Crash - 1997
More dates from British history

click here to view all the British counties

County Pages