Cars and fireworks

I see the poor bloke who organised the rugby club firework display near the M5 is being pilloried. The Daily Mail, in particular, was anxious to fling the blame at someone for the appalling pile-up on the motorway which left seven people dead. It immediately alighted upon the fact that there had been a firework display nearby and that perhaps smoke had drifted onto the road. Just wait until next October, and the same paper will be doing the usual why-oh-why pieces about how “elf n safety lunatics” have forced people to cancel their firework displays; you couldn’t make it up, we’re heading to hell in a handcart guv.

The motorway crash was both shocking and terrifying and makes me glad I don’t drive. I’d have a compulsory 20mph speed limit so even if they held a firework party in the middle of the road no damage or loss of life would be occasioned. And if we had to ban anything, I’d rather it was cars than fireworks. But that, I suppose, is very much a minority position.