Anti-motorist Herbert

The verses and prose of A.P. Herbert are very enjoyable but it is sickening to find, in his book “Look Back and Laugh” (Methuen, 1960), a reprint of a strong anti-motoring article he wrote for Punch in 1929. In this he contends that speed is the cause of almost every accident. He advocates long terms of imprisonment for motorists involved in any incident, whether or not they are to blame, even for exceeding 30 m.p.h. in any circumstances, “which would be dangerous driving.” The repeat of this hysterical outburst “A.P.H.” tries to justify on the grounds that “it is still pretty topical, I feel.” One wonders what cars this eminent author drove at 29 m.p.h., from 1929 to the present day?