Thousands of Britons use their phones while driving — but these 17 foreigners are the real problem
There’s quite a lot happening in the world right now. Donald Trump is chasing Hillary Clinton in the polls, Iraqi troops are pushing into Mosul, inflation is climbing and Michael Heseltine may or may not be a dog murderer.
Yet today, the Mail front page features nine ‘foreign truckers’ using mobile phones in the cabs of their vehicles.
‘Madness!’ the headline read. ‘As Polish lorry driver is jailed for killing a family while on his mobile, we catch SEVENTEEN foreign truckers using their phones at 50mph. The law MUST be toughened.’
Of course, road safety is a serious matter, as is dangerous phone use by the drivers of heavy duty vehicles. However, as the Mail itself has pointed out, hundreds of thousands of motorists use their phones while driving each year — it’s not clear why these 17 foreign ones are a particular cause for concern.
Well actually, it is clear. Earlier this week, a Polish truck driver was convicted of dangerous driving, and the Mail spied an opportunity to spread fear and hatred of foreigners.
Of course, that’s repugnant in itself, but it also devalues one of the Mail’s only non-despicable causes.
In September, the paper launched a campaign against drivers using mobiles behind the wheel, calling for stiffer deterrents to combat the ‘epidemic’ of dangerous phone use. For once, a group who actually deserved it was getting the ‘sidebar of shame’ treatment.
Unfortunately, it’s taken less than two months for the tabloid to prove that far from being a noble effort, this campaign — like all the others — is simply a front for paper-selling, profit-making xenophobia.
What more did we expect?
To reach hundreds of thousands of new readers and to make the biggest impact we can in the next general election, we need to grow our donor base substantially.
That's why in 2024, we are seeking to generate 150 additional regular donors to support Left Foot Forward's work.
We still need another 124 people to donate to hit the target. You can help. Donate today.
13 Responses to “MADNESS! Daily Mail cheapens road safety campaign with tirade against ‘foreign truckers’”
Fred
Andy King
It is not intended to answer any question. But it’s not an irrelevant variable either.
Mick
‘Until then, I’ll just assume that your banging on about “foreigners” and “lefties” is the usual substance-free bollocks from people who get all agitated at the first whiff of a different accent.’
And I’m supposed to be the one full of assumptions about others??
Imran Khan
Andy King. I am writing this slowly so you can understand! The standard of driving on the roads in Poland by Polish driver will in fact be worse here because they are driving on, to them, the wrong side of the road. I have also witnessed the most appalling standards of driving by European registered vehicles with drivers on their phones. It happens, get over it.