Jeremy Clarkson slams speeding rule after Emma Watson banned

Jeremy Clarkson has never been shy about sharing his opinions on motoring laws, and his latest target is the UK’s approach to speeding bans. His criticism comes after Harry Potter star Emma Watson was banned from driving for six months following a speeding offence in Oxford.

The former Top Gear and Grand Tour presenter lives in Oxfordshire, where he famously bought Curdle Hill Farm in 2008, now better known as Diddly Squat. Watson, meanwhile, has deep roots in the county too, having grown up in Oxford and currently studying at Oxford University while taking a break from acting.

Emma Watson’s Speeding Case

The 35-year-old actress, best known worldwide for playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, appeared at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court in July. She was banned from driving for six months after being caught driving at 38mph in a 30mph zone on Banbury Road, Oxford.

In addition to the ban, Watson was fined £650, reduced because of her guilty plea, alongside £120 in court costs and a £264 surcharge. Records revealed she had committed four driving offences in around two years.

The sentencing, which took place on Wednesday, July 16, highlighted her repeat offences and left her temporarily unable to drive in the UK.

Clarkson Calls Out “Idiotic” Speed Limits

In his column for The Sun, Clarkson weighed in on the controversy, linking Watson’s ban to a broader problem with what he views as overzealous enforcement of speed limits.

“One of my oldest friends lost his driving licence recently, having been caught speeding four times in the last three years,” Clarkson wrote. “He sounds reckless until I tell you that the speeds involved were 25, 26, 31 and 35.”

For Clarkson, this was proof of what he called a “ridiculous attitude” to drivers who breach minor limits, especially the growing prevalence of 20mph zones in residential areas. He described such limits as “idiotic” and framed them as part of what he calls an “anti-car iceberg.”

Testing, Technology, and Frustration

Clarkson went further, criticising the challenges new drivers face. According to him, “it is now virtually impossible to get a driving test.” Even for those who do manage to pass, the cars they end up buying don’t provide the freedom drivers once enjoyed.

“If by some miracle you do eventually get a licence, you won’t want to buy a car because it bongs at you if you drive too quickly or stray out of the lane or take your eyes off the road,” he argued.

This echoes Clarkson’s frequent complaints about driver-assist technology, which he believes undermines the joy and skill of driving by turning motorists into passengers policed by their own vehicles.

Emma Watson’s Oxford Connection

Watson’s ban is notable not only because of her celebrity status but also her strong ties to the region. Growing up in Oxford, she attended the Dragon School and later trained at Brown University in the US before returning to Oxford for further study.

Her driving ban in her hometown inevitably attracted headlines, with many locals recognising both her fame and her connection to the roads where she was caught speeding.

Clarkson, Cars, and Controversy

For Clarkson, the case was a convenient hook to continue his long-standing critique of UK motoring laws. The outspoken presenter has built his career on testing the limits of vehicles and ridiculing regulations he considers unnecessary.

Whether you agree with him or not, Clarkson’s voice adds fuel to a debate that divides opinion. Some argue that strict enforcement saves lives and keeps roads safe. Others, like Clarkson, feel it unfairly punishes ordinary drivers for small lapses while ignoring the realities of modern traffic conditions.

Emma Watson’s temporary ban and Clarkson’s fiery response highlight a cultural clash between celebrity, motoring freedom, and increasingly tight regulations.

As well as being temporarily banned, Ms Watson was also ordered to pay a £650 fine, reduced due to her guilty plea, court costs of £120 and a £264 surcharge.

She also had committed a total of four driving offences in around two years.

The sentencing occurred on Wednesday, July 16.

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