Speed limits and Austin 7s

[Bruce Nicholls]

Some years ago my brother was taking his in-laws to Birmingham Airport in his Vauxhall Omega at a very early hour. While progressing along the M42 at some speed he noted the only other vehicle on the road behind and nearly keeping up. He left the motorway at the airport exit and slowed to the limit and was shortly passed by a Police Range Rover who stopped him. When asked how fast he thought he was going he admitted he was probably doing over 70mph. At this the officer said the RR was flat out at 105 and "we weren't catching you". Then he unbelievably said that the car was undoubtedly capable of the speed and the motorway had been otherwise empty and let him go. As a friend once said "if he fell out of a window he would land on a mattress"