Driving Standards Agency

October 27th, 2006

Dear Mr Scott,
I recently passed my practical driving test and, as a result, received my copy of Drive On, the magazine for new drivers. I read it, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

However, I have a question regarding the article entitled “Don’t Risk It” (p37). In this, the VASCAR is introduced, a handy device that relieves policemen and women from the tiresome chore of dividing distance by time, by calculating a vehicle’s speed from the time it takes to travel a known distance.

Given that the VASCAR is little more than a pocket calculator, do you believe that it is not picked up by radar-detecting devices because:
a) it has advanced micro-processors (as Drive On states)
OR:
b) it does not use radar technology.

Also, I would be indebted to you if you could tell me whether you would consider this glaring error:
a) a minor fault
b) a serious fault
c) a dangerous fault

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Regards,
Frank Swain

After being held up to the excruciatingly high standards of the DSA, I felt I was more than justified in pointing this error out. Surely the men and women at the DSA would be grateful (after all, they didn’t even have to pay me £35 to point this out). Nope. No reply, and they’re suspiciously difficult to contact. In the absence of a rebuttal I’ll have to assume they couldn’t back up this pseudoscientific crap. (Me, 1. DSA, 0.)

Entry Filed under: The Letters

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