Good Old Boy #7

From the Observer:

The minister responsible for reducing Britain's traffic casualties has been dropped from launching National Road Safety Week after he made 'irresponsible' comments defending the BBC's Top Gear.

Stephen Ladyman, who was asked to launch next month's event, has infuriated organisers who claim that his defence of the show glamorised speeding. He had announced he was 'distressed' that critics had used presenter Richard Hammond's 300mph crash in a jet-powered car as an excuse to attack the programme.

Ladyman, the road safety minister, hailing Hammond, 36, as an 'adventurer,' said the programme did not encourage speeding among young men.

The minister has been caught three times by speed cameras and once had nine points on his licence.