Personal injury car accident news
13/01/2010

Millionaire gets steep Swiss fine

Speeding fines are undoubtedly seen by the powers that be as a way of reining in reckless drivers and as a means of car accident prevention, yet, in the UK the fine amounts are often criticised for not being enough of a deterrent.

However, in Switzerland recently, a Ferrari driver was fined the equivalent of £182,000 when he was caught driving his Ferrari Testarossa at 85mph through a village where the speed limit was 50mph.

It is reported that the driver, a repeat speeding offender, has personal wealth of around £14 million and lists former Formula 1 racing drivers Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen as his friends. The extent of the fine is said to have been based on this wealth.

An official court report noted: "The accused ignored elementary traffic rules with a powerful vehicle out of a pure desire for speed."

Despite the motoring offence not having led to a personal injury car accident the fine represents the largest ever Swiss speeding penalty awarded. Previously the record for such a fine was £66,000, handed out in 2004 to the driver of a Porsche.