Jeremy Vine Speaks Out After Causing Baxter Dury to Lose His Driving Licence
A recent controversy surrounding Jeremy Vine, the Channel 5 presenter and avid cyclist, has made headlines after it was revealed that he had caused Baxter Dury, son of rock icon Ian Dury, to lose his driving licence. According to a report in the Daily Express, Vine had caught Baxter using his phone while driving and subsequently reported him to the authorities.
In a recent podcast appearance, Vine was made aware of Baxter’s driving suspension and responded with a brief, yet brutal, two-word message: “Best wishes”. As quoted in the Daily Express, Vine told the Daily Mail: “This is very unfortunate. I would like Baxter to know that I love his dad’s music.” It is worth noting that Ian Dury is most famous for his hit track “Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick”, which reached number one in the UK in 1979.
Baxter Dury, who has carved out his own career in music, was driving home from the studio when he was caught by Vine using his phone in a traffic jam. Vine stands by his actions, insisting that mobile phone use in cars is a significant problem, particularly in London. As reported by the Daily Express, Vine stated: “I’m afraid mobile phone use in cars in London, particularly the posher parts, is an absolute curse. So I am quite tunnel-visioned about it. We have 1700 road deaths a year. Sorry to be serious about it. Best wishes to Baxter.”
In response to the incident, Baxter Dury explained that he had been caught in a traffic jam and had been filming himself looking at Instagram, which Vine had captured on camera. As quoted in the Daily Express, Baxter said: “Do you know what? This is a tragic story, but I drove there for the first half (of making the record) and then lost my licence. I got caught in a traffic jam, and Jeremy Vine took a film of me looking at Instagram, which he deserves to, I’m not arguing about (it). Shouldn’t probably say that publicly, he’s probably in the other room, isn’t he?”
Vine’s actions have sparked controversy, with some accusing him of being a ” cyclist vigilante”. However, Vine has defended his actions, stating that he believes it is essential to highlight the dangers of mobile phone use while driving. As reported by the Daily Express, Vine told BBC Radio 4: “I do have to deal with quite a lot of incoming, what you would have called flak in the olden days, but now they call it trolling. I shouldn’t mind, but in the end I just thought I just want to now switch the narrative, I don’t want to do this any more and in the end it did get to me. Car driving is a religion in this country. If you say anything that runs counter, that’s what you get.”
The incident has also sparked a wider debate about the dangers of mobile phone use while driving and the role of cyclists in reporting road offences. Vine has previously hit out at motorists, telling Gaby Roslin on her podcast: “All the people who are not getting enough sex lock themselves in small metal boxes and drive around London.” According to the Daily Express, this statement has been seen as a reflection of Vine’s frustration with the attitudes of some motorists towards cyclists.
In conclusion, the controversy surrounding Jeremy Vine and Baxter Dury has highlighted the ongoing debate about road safety and the role of cyclists in reporting offences. While Vine’s actions have been seen as heavy-handed by some, others have defended his right to highlight the dangers of mobile phone use while driving. As reported by the Daily Express, the incident has sparked a wider conversation about road safety and the need for greater awareness of the risks associated with mobile phone use while driving.
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