In Dublin, Ireland, David Clarke was late for a wedding and was trying to make up some time. He was clocked driving down a road at 180 kilometers per hour and seemed certain to lose his license. But, when it came to court, his luck was in. The judge commented that 180 mph did seem excessive but that, when converted to miles, 'twas only 112 mph, which is far more acceptable.

And, for goodness sakes, the weather was dry, the roads were relatively clear and that road Clarke was driving down was uncommonly straight - so, the judge suggested, it was perfectly reasonable to break the legal speed limit in those circumstances.

I wonder if Clarke was the Irish driver who, when stopped by police for speeding was asked if he knew his wife had fallen out of the car about five miles previously. "Ah, thank God," he said, "I thought I'd gone deaf!"

AP