Balls admits being caught in speed trap

Ed Balls has confessed to being caught speeding – saying that he was “bang to rights”.
Ed Balls has confessed to being caught speeding, saying that he was bang to rights.Ed Balls has confessed to being caught speeding, saying that he was bang to rights.
Ed Balls has confessed to being caught speeding, saying that he was bang to rights.

The Shadow Chancellor said he was driving at 56mph in a 50mph zone on the motorway in his West Yorkshire constituency when he triggered a trap.

Joking that he had been going “too far, too fast” – a favourite attack line against the coalition’s austerity measures – Mr Balls said he had paid a fine and attended a speed awareness course rather than accept penalty points.

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“Like many local people, I was caught out by the never-ending roadworks on the M62. Pulling on to the motorway at Morley I realised too late that the speed restrictions were still in place,” the Morley and Outwood MP wrote on his blog.

“I was caught and bang to rights – doing 56 in a 50 mile restriction zone. Going too far, too fast, you might say.

“I paid my fine and chose to attend a speed awareness course. I currently have no points on my licence and would like to keep it that way. Which is why, this week, I ended up in the Holiday Inn with 39 others.

“The course was very professional and actually really worthwhile. What hit home were the statistics which link speed to car deaths. At 20mph, less than 10 per cent of people will lose their lives if hit by a car. But the probability rises exponentially, going above 40 per cent at 40mph.”

Mr Balls insisted the experience had reinforced his determination to get more 20mph zones on busy roads in the area.