According to Guinness World Records, the first person charged with speeding was Walter Arnold from Paddock Wood, Kent. On 28 January 1896, Arnold was seen going 4 times the allowed 2 mph speed limit in his Benz. The constable pursued him on his bicycle, issuing a ticket for £4 7s (roughly £260 in today's money), of which 10 shillings was for speeding.
8 Comments
jonhanson@kbin.social · 6 pts · 3y
In the same year Bridget Driscoll became the first recorded case in Great Britain of a pedestrian to be killed in a collision with a motor car. The car was traveling at 4mph.
Bruce_Wayne@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 3y
You could jog faster than that...
lechatron@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 3y
Seriously, and the speed limit of 2mph is slower than most people walk.
some_designer_dude@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 3y
Sounds like the first shameless speed trap in history. 2mph? Was the road through a childrens playground or something?
Givesomefucks@kbin.social · 8 pts · 3y
Back in the day streets were for people...
Horses were slow and wouldn't run over someone, so it's less like driving down an empty street and more like driving through a children's playground
QuinceDaPence@kbin.social · 6 pts · 3y
It would be difficult to keep a horse at 2mph for any length of time. Even for a human that's a pretty damn slow walk.
Horses have 4 speeds; walk, trot, canter, and gallop. A walk is the slowest and will be about 4mph. You can make them go slower for a small amount of time but they'll get frustrated.
Givesomefucks@kbin.social · 5 pts · 3y
The speed limit for cars was not the same as horses
morgan_423@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3y
I'm guessing this speed limit was an anti-car measure at the time. No reason to use a car if bicycles (and even walking) are faster.