to think BBC (Top Gear) should not promote bad driving

[EdwardTaylor]

Latest programme (broadcast Sun.3rd Feb. Repeat Sat.9th Feb) includes the following:
(Last feature) car race on public roads.
Richard Hammond spinning the wheels of his car on the hotel forecourt.
James May reading a map as he drives along.
Jeremy Clarkson putting his car into a slide at one junction.

All this on public roads. It looks dangerous. Any driver should be prosecuted for dangerous driving for doing any of the above. Isn't it wrong for the BBC to promote it as "harmless fun"? Aren't they promoting bad attitudes to driving and safety.

[11Plustrauma]

I would do The Hamster though .....

[CloudsAndTrees]

I love Top Gear too.

You need to unclench OP.

[JenaiMorris]

Oh and I don't drive a Honda Civic

[EddieVeddersfoxymop]

11plustrauma, form an orderly queue, behind me........

[11Plustrauma]

[11Plustrauma]

You know the one where they made the soft top Renault Espace? The bit where they are doing the bendy thinging with the pipe stuff and they bend it arse about face creases me up every single time (I may have seen it millions of time) and when Clarkson sews himself to the sewing machine......

[Sparklingbrook]

I love it in the Alfa Romeo one where they keep driving up the back of James. And when JC ties a cow to the roof of the car, and bought the baby Jesus a Nintendo DS. There's loads of bits that are sooo funny.

[SayMama]

Did you see the most recent one where they edited it to pretend they were going 55mph when in fact they were speeding?!! It was hilarious

[11Plustrauma]

Oh the Alfa one was hilarious.

No I didn't see that one SayMama!!

But honestly it's just ENTERTAINMENT.

[11Plustrauma]

I feel a night of Iplayer coming on

[Sparklingbrook]

The Stig on public transport/Stig's fat American cousin.

[11Plustrauma]

The one I saw the other day when the Stig was at Blackpool waiting for them as they raced to turn on the lights and Jeremy was thrashing the arse out of the big Jag and then had a panic attack once he'd passed his house and realised he actually wanted to win.

There's loads. I love it. The Alfa one was the one with the cheese on the engine block wasn't it?

[VivaLeBeaver]

I've learnt to do a Scandinavian flick thanks to top gear. It's very educational, love it.

I read a newspaper article of Clarksons once that said something like, " I was at home writing the script for the next episode of TG when I got a phone call to say we'd won an award for best non scripted tv show"

It's 99.9% scripted. Not just the studio stuff but all the out and about stuff.

[JenaiMorris]

I am finding it hard to believe that the OP isn't pulling our collective leg somewhat.

If anything has a detrimental influence on my driving, it isn't a bunch of aging denim-botherers fannying about with caravans or cruising supercars along deserted mountain roads; it's the onboard cameras they fit on F1 cars these days, and playing too much Forza

[complexnumber]

"Oh, and we have one of the worst child pedestrian accident rates in Europe"

Can you cite that please? I've tried to find references, but they seem to be either lacking in credibility or closed.

The claim may well be correct, but I think it needs some substance.

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

I love Top Gear!

And I adore Jeremy Clarkson.

[11Plustrauma]

I'm watching Top Gear on Dave thanks to this thread

[MrsReiver]

Team Top Gear here too, we love it, DS has recently discovered it so we're working our way through all the repeats on Dave at the moment.

A Lamborghini Aventador drove past the school the other week when I was picking him up, and he nearly exploded with excitement. He's picked up a huge amount from watching TG, as I was treated to lots of factoids about Lambos on the walk home

[stargirl1701]

I think I would've exploded with excitement too!!!! Love, love, love Lambos!

[MrsReiver]

It was pretty awesome, the driver spotted DS pointing and jumping and revved the arse out of it as he passed us. Exactly the sort of irresponsible behaviour the OP is complaining about Top Gear encouraging.

[EdwardTaylor]

How about this, Complexnumber :

May 8, 2009 ? Britain is 'way behind' other countries in child pedestrian deaths and must do more to prevent accidents, ... seriously injured on the roads, the report from the National Audit Office (NAO) said.

(Reported by Telegraph).

[11Plustrauma]

And of course that's all Top Gear's fault?

[BarredfromhavingStella]

YABU, love love love Top Gear-it's piss funny.

[EdwardTaylor]

Maybe, 11Plustrauma, that's a problem the BBC could help tackle (perhaps making a prog. on pedestrian safety issues ).
It isn't and actually looks like its ADDING to the problem with Top Gear - which can only give encouragement to those idiots who DO drive as if they think public roads are there for them to use like some kind of "playground" / racetrack.