Thatcher vetoed ‘very unfair’ plans for lowering speed limits for boy racers
- It was hitherto unknown that her devotion to deregulation extended to boy racers, as well as the financial sector
- Concern over the preponderance of younger drivers being involved in serious accidents has spiked in 1990
- One letter from that year, newly released at the National Archives, suggested that novice drivers ‘be prohibited from carrying more than one passenger’
Mrs Thatcher’s belief in free markets is well known.
But it was hitherto unknown that her devotion to deregulation extended to boy racers, as well as the financial sector.
Concern over the preponderance of younger drivers being involved in serious accidents has spiked in 1990, with the Department of Transport advocating draconian measure to counter it.
In response, however, an unequivocal Mrs Thatcher scrawled: ‘I thoroughly disagree…they would be very difficult to implement and very unfair’
One letter from that year, newly released at the National Archives, suggested that novice drivers ‘be prohibited from carrying more than one passenger’ as well as having speed restrictions imposed on them at 10mph under the normal limit on all roads.
In response, however, an unequivocal Mrs Thatcher scrawled: ‘I thoroughly disagree…they would be very difficult to implement and very unfair’.
She also extended her veto to a proposal for ‘P’ plates for two years for all newly qualified drivers, writing in another handwritten note: ‘I doubt this – two years is a very long time especially for someone driving every day.
‘A few weeks if anything at all would surely be enough.’
Interestingly, variations on these proposals continue to be supported by transport experts.
And a very similar package of measures was introduced in Northern Ireland earlier this year, with the possibility of introducing them across the UK if they prove a success.