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British Spies To Be Allowed To Break Speed Limit

An anonymous reader writes "The Telegraph reports, 'Britain's spies are to be given a "licence to speed" for the first time, under changes to motoring laws. While James Bond would no doubt have scorned such niceties, officers in MI5 and MI6 are currently required to obey the rules of the road, even when national security is under threat. Now Robert Goodwill, the transport minister, intends to add the Security Service and the Secret Intelligence Service to the group of agencies with permission to break the speed limit.'"

5 of 278 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Stupid interlligence by 0123456 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Unlikely... they'd get stopped and pulled over just like anyone else.

    Pulled over for speeding? In the UK? Since when?

    There were hardly any traffic cops remaining on the roads when I left the UK some years ago. Instead, they'll get a photo in the mail, and will presumably write back to say that actually they were a spy on important National Security business, and the police will just forget about it.

  2. Re:Backwards Logic... by 0123456 · · Score: 5, Informative

    How many people die in traffic accidents compared to terrorist attacks?

    If I remember correctly, far more people have been killed by police cars driving at high speed than by terrorists. I was almost hit by one myself some years ago while walking along a country road.

  3. Re:Sirens? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    The Germans have rules even on the \\\ sections. You may not undertake (pass on the right). It's not just a custom. It's a rule and it's my understanding you can actually get a ticket for that. It's also against the law to run out of gas on the Autobahn. I'm sure there are a lot of other rules on the Autobahn that you're ignoring just to beat your Libertarian drum. Face it. The German freeways don't work without rules, and people that actually follow them. When you see videos of people running at speed there, it's a thing of beauty. People actually get out of the way when you flash your headlights at them in the left lane. In the States, you've got all kinds of wankers driving 4-abreast and not passing, with 1/4 mile of clear road in front of them. You have to tailgate and honk to break of those stupid formations sometimes. Idiots.

  4. Re:Sirens? by ACE209 · · Score: 4, Informative

    ...when you flash your headlights at them in the left lane.

    Which isn't allowed btw.
    But that's one of the rules which is often ignored.

    --
    "we are all atheists about most of the gods that societies have ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further."
  5. Re:Sirens? by horza · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's legal to flash your headlights in Britain, except for purposes of 'intimidation' and 'alerting other motorists to police activity'. You also cannot clog the passing lane. Not only that you can get a fine for driving too slowly. Bretons are French people from the western region called "Brittany". Perhaps you mean the British? They are also one of the few countries where cars drive on the correct side of the road.

    Phillip.