Saying, “Let’s see what she’s got in her” and gunning a car for all it’s worth is a phrase uttered a billion times by drivers around the world. Doing so may or may not get you into trouble.
French minister of “industrial recovery” Arnaud Montebourg, certainly got into a bit of trouble when he uttered that phrase while taking the ZOE, Renault’s all-electric supermini, for a spin outside the Elysée Palace.
Unfortunately for the minister, the TV crew that was in the car filmed him hitting 66 km/h (41 mph), exceeding the 50 km/h (31 mph) speed limit by 16 km/h (10 mph).
Prior to switching seats with his chauffeur, Montebourg had said that the production version of the ZOE, which will go on sale in 2013, is “the future of France”. While driving it, he praised Renault‘s EV for its ease of use and total silence.
The offence is punishable by a €90 (US$117) fine and one point docked from the driving license.
The minister’s office, when questioned by Europe1 radio station, replied that “we prefer him being filmed doing 66 km/h in the streets rather than 180 km/h on the motorway”.
We guess from now on, this excuse can be used to silence the Gendarmerie officer who stops you for breaking the speed limit…
By Andrew Tsaousis
Story References: Telegraph
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