Sense of humour failure?

A UK driver using his hands-free phone was spotted laughing at a joke by a police traffic officer and pulled over. The driver was told that laughing while driving can be an offence and was then questioned by the officer for 30 minutes. During this questioning, the driver was asked the colour of his hair.
February 28, 2012 Read time: 1 min
A UK driver using his hands-free phone was spotted laughing at a joke by a police traffic officer and pulled over. The driver was told that laughing while driving can be an offence and was then questioned by the officer for 30 minutes. During this questioning, the driver was asked the colour of his hair. The driver pointed out that he is bald due to alopecia, a condition that causes hair loss, and was then asked what colour his hair was, prior to the onset of the alopecia. The man was allowed to drive away without charge. Drivers in and around the Birkenhead Tunnel should take note from this incident however and refrain from laughing, as well as blinking excessively, sneezing or coughing, while at the wheel. Smiling while at the wheel is permissible but drivers should check the width of their smile and ensure that this does not exceed guidelines regarding field of vision. Bald drivers may be required to carry hair samples.

Related Content

  • The Lessons of the Genoa bridge collapse
    April 23, 2019
    The partial collapse of the Polcevera viaduct, better known as the Morandi Bridge, has prompted debate regarding the technical and administrative aspects of maintaining road infrastructures. We discussed it with the engineer Gabriele Camomilla, former Director of Research and Maintenance of the Società Autostrade, who coordinated the only major structural intervention performed on the bridge, carried out in the early 1990s
    Read More
  • Goals result in crashes?
    February 29, 2012
    Drivers listening to football matches drive erratically and are more likely to cause accidents, according to new research. The study, carried out by scientists at the UK's University of Leicester for an insurance company suggests that the pace of the game, goal scoring and penalty decisions can affect the ability and concentration of a football supporter sitting behind the wheel of a car.
    Read More
  • Style trial
    August 23, 2016
    Police in Vietnam have been trying to find a young motorcyclist, with a very dangerous riding style. The man was filmed by the passenger of another vehicle, with the clip clearly showing the youth riding his motorcycle and using his feet to steer, while holding a phone in his hand and carrying out a conversation. At one point in the clip a truck driver blasts his horn at the rider, who then nearly falls of his motorcycle. Vietnam has recently introduced a requirement for motorcyclists to wear helmets but it
    Read More
  • LA’s Ribbon of Light viaduct cast into darkness
    January 10, 2024
    Thieves have been pulling copper wiring out of electrical boxes Los Angeles’ 6th Street Viaduct and selling it for scrap, prompting police to report that “the Grinch stole all the Christmas lights”.
    Read More

Highlighted Content