UK’s worst speeders? Our honourable MPs
It is their job to help make the laws of the land.
But it seems they aren’t much good at sticking to them.
Out of 1,400 professions, MPs have been named and shamed as the most likely to be convicted for both speeding and drink driving.
Around 22 per cent of MPs have a speeding conviction, placing them just ahead of radio presenters, who have a conviction rate of 19.2 per cent, and sales directors – with a 18.9 per cent rate.
Surgeons came in tenth, with a conviction rate of 16.5 per cent.
But it doesn’t end there. Nearly a quarter of MPs have had one or more driving convictions – ahead of sales directors (20.8 per cent) and company managing directors (19.7 per cent). the findings are based on comparison website GoCompare’s analysis of more than seven million car insurance quotes.
they come after disgraced former Labour MP Fiona Onasanya was jailed for three months earlier this year for lying to police to avoid a speeding ticket.
Liberal Democrat MP Chris Huhne was jailed in 2013 along with his now ex-wife Vicky Pryce after he was caught speeding.
He pleaded guilty to perverting the cause of justice when persuading Miss Pryce to say she was driving the car and take the points on her licence – so that he could escape a driving ban.
Other MPs to be caught breaking the speed limit include tory MP Nicholas Soames and former Labour minister Ed Balls.
there have been fewer reports of MPs being caught drink driving. Former Labour MP Eric Joyce resigned as shadow Northern Ireland minister in 2010 after being banned from driving when he refused to take a breath test.
the report provides no explanation as to why MPs might have such a poor record compared to other professions.
But late nights, busy schedules and the heavy drinking culture in Westminster are all possible explanations.
those in high-profile jobs, including politicians and sports stars tend to pay higher premiums as well – even if they have never been convicted of anything.
Because they are in the public eye, they are deemed a potential target and therefore a higher risk.
Lee Griffin, of GoCompare, said: ‘Your occupation is one of the key considerations used to calculate the cost of your premium.
‘Ultimately, different professions are deemed riskier than others, so the chances are, if you’re a footballer or a GP, you’re likely to face higher premiums than a priest.’