Do we Detect a Little Help in Avoiding Speed Cameras, Wills?

Daily Mail, Saturday June 11th 2005
By Rebecca English, Royal Correspondent

Unlike many other members of the Royal Family, Prince William's motoring has yet to land him in trouble with the law.

And he seems to be making sure things stay that way – despite his love of fast driving.

The 22-year-old prince has what looks suspiciously like a speed camera detector fixed to the dashboard of his VW Golf.

As he left a social engagement in Oxfordshire last weekend, the black and grey oval contraption was clearly visible. From its size and shape it appeared to be a £400 Road Angel device.

The Angel helps drivers to avoid all three types of speed camera as well as hand-held radars, camera vans and hazards such as traffic bottlenecks and accident blackspots.

Under new road safety laws, dashboard detectors which jam speed cameras and hand-held police traps are to be outlawed. But those such as the Road Angel, which use laser technology to detect the traps without interfering with their radars, will still be allowed.

According to friends William adores being behind the wheel. But his love of the open road isn't just restricted to cars – last year he bought himself a 157mph superbike, much to his father's concern.

This week he left his transport at home, however, when he and a group of friends holidayed on the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides.

The group spent their time tramping through the hills and watching wildlife before returning to the mainland on Thursday. William graduates from St. Andrews University on June 23, two days after his 23 rd birthday, and will head for New Zealand shortly afterwards.

While Clarence House declined to comment on the prince's speed camera detector, Graham Choat, sales manager at manufacturers Blackspot Interactive, said: “We are delighted that Prince William appears to be using the Road Angel.”

But Brigitte Chaudhry, president of the crash victim's charity RoadPeace, said no one should get away with speeding, and the prince should be setting a better example. “The fact that he has this device puts into question whether or not he would be a good role model.”

Several members of the Royal Family have been caught exceeding the speed limit – most notably the Princess Royal.

In November 1972 she was clocked at 90mph on the M1. Five years later she was prosecuted for doing 96mph on the same motorway. In October 1990 she was banned for a month after admitting two separate speeding offences, while in August 2000 she was clocked doing 93mph in her Bentley close to her Gloucestershire home Gatcombe Park, earning her five more penalty points.

Prince Michael of Kent was also banned after driving past an unmarked police car at 104mph in his Aston Martin – the second time he had been caught.

And William's uncle Prince Edward was once cautioned for doing 90mph on a motorway, as were the Duke of Gloucester and Princess Margaret's son Viscount Linley.