We are constantly reminded of the so-called Big Brother society we live in as predicted by George Orwell in his classic novel 1984, and 50 years ago one angry motorist caught out by the now-ubiquitous Salford speed traps went on an astonishing rant in court.
This story from the pages of the Salford City Reporter from December 1965 concerns the plight of a Mr Irwin Gomersall who lived in Leeds, and was charged with speeding at 45 miles per hour.
The history of speed enforcement in the UK may date back a lot further than you might imagine.
In 1865 the Locomotive Act, also known as the Red Flag Act, introduced a speed limit of 2mph in towns and villages and 4 mph elsewhere.
The first ever speeding ticket was issued in 1896 – the same year that the first UK road death was recorded. It would fall upon speed demon Mr Walter Arnold of Kent, who was fined one shilling for doing 8mph in a 2mph zone.
This of course was seven years before the first driving licence was introduced and the speed limit raised to 20mph.
Just two years late in 1905 the Automobile Association was formed to help motorists avoid police speed traps – the earliest indication that speed cameras were being used to raise revenue rather than protect lives.
The Triumph Speed Twin and Norton Commando police patrol bikes in the 1960s
It was not until 1934 that the 30mph speed limit was introduced in built up areas, and 31 years later that the 50mph speed limit was brought in on trunk roads in an attempt to reduce accidents.
Two years after Orwell’s proposed Big Brother society in 1986 the UK authorities introduced fixed penalty fines for motoring offences.
Rather than admit his guilt, Mr Gomersall wrote to Salford Magistrates Court instead of appearing in person and this is well worth quoting in full.
“Since I do not posses either the specialised knowledge or the unique intellect required to contradict the findings of your Frankenstian monster – this robot which has successfully ambushed, pre-tried and convicted me (along with many others of my other fellow humanoids).
“And realising the absolute futility of my attempting to plead with an anti-social computer that human brains are not programmed in a rigid non-flexible pattern but operate from experience gained over years of application, and exercise man’s inherent rights and freedom to make decisions.
“Understanding also that its human servants (who try so hard to find out why the majority of society will not succour or comfort them) must report the findings of this prying, electronic sneak in order that we may be compelled to conform to this idyllic, sterile, anaesthetized and totally neurotic pattern.”
Salford City Police stand with their Hillman Minx cars © GMP Museum
He added: “I do plead (if there are any human eyes left to read or brain to comprehend) for a measure of sanity in this lunatic world against a push button justice which can be responsible for taking away a man’s livelihood.
“I an now finding it almost impossible to find suitable employment as I now no longer have a clean driving licence and as a company representative this was my living.
“I wish to go on record for posterity as one who can see the inevitability of the domination of man by the machine, and as a rebel against it.
“Remember Big Brother is watching…YOU!”
It has to be said that it was quite an eloquent defence that Mr Gomersall put forward – if a tad loopy at times – and his predictions about Big Brother state are well and truly with us.
However, the real life Magistrate disagreed with his Luddite logic and fined him £50.
Main image: © Greater Manchester Police Museum
