Fifth Gear - GLASS Actions

[Eeyore]

[Official Hat]

Due to a total disregard of their enviroment and for presenting legitimate and repsonsible laners in the worst of all lights, GLASS will be putting an official complaint onto the makers of last nights 'Fifth Gear' programme.

Whilst Top Gear may have been entertaining on private ground, Fifth Gear demonstrated abohrent behaviour on a public right of way.

This announcement follows a near universal outcry regarding this programme from significant sections of the laning community including appeals directly to myself and GLASS. Our respect it seems, has been damaged.

If I'm honest, I'm not sure where this could lead, but I'm going to find out.

Please, do not let this stop any of you writing with your own complaint.

Thanks
[/Official hat]

Eeyore

A donkey is a simple animal; feed me and I will portage; pull my tail and I WILL kick.

[TechnoTurkey]

Here here, would be very interested to see the outcome.

[Wanderer]

I didn't start watching last night until after Colin mentioned it elsewhere on the forum. So missed the item.

It is repeated this evening at 7.30pm on channel 5.

Ed

[V8MoneyPit]

Just saw the last part when he was charging a along a watery lane at a completely inapropriate speed. Thought it was a bit of a dodgy piece then.

[Eeyore]

Thought it was a bit of a dodgy piece then.

Watch the repeat and be amazed.

cheers
Eeyore

[V8MoneyPit]

Hopefully, I'll be home in time. 7.30 can be a bit on the limit. Is it the first feature?

[Wanderer]

It's on straight away is the info I've got. It's available on the web but I didn't fancy downlaoding another bit of software onto my PC to download it.

Ed

[davidlandy]

just watched this program.

oh dear, it felt embarrassing :oops: a text book 'what not to do' , and we thought that Mr Clarkson had a problem!

I also recall some time ago watching a program hosted by Tony Mason called 'off the road'  it featured on one episode a 'rally' being held in Wales on byways. Churning them to bits with old cars ie Mk1 escorts. This was on discovery H&L during the height of the DEFRA proposals. I mentioned this to Glass on their national forum when I was a member and surprisingly they never reacted! so I am now equally surprised that they are making an official complaint at this. Well done Glass - they appear to have put their teeth in at last!

[TechnoTurkey]

Just watched the programme as well and the bloke's actions were disgraceful, if I was walking down there and saw him driving like that then I would have complained to him, and I am a bloody 4x4 owner myself - imagine what a rambler would have said!

[Paul]

I thought I was watching the RAC Rally, Disgraceful. :shock:

Keep us posted Nic, I will be very interested to hear how this goes.

[Wanderer]

For a supposedly competent driver he certainly looked totally incompetent.

I'd have thought that a good place to complain would be the programmes sponsors. More than insurance.
More than, more than likely don't insure modified vehicles so they may not be concerned.

Ed

[Jimbrown]

More than, will insure anything and anyone if your willing to pay the premium . :shock:

[Xtremeteam]

unless u are 19,with no no claims bonus & 3 points  :oops:

[Landyrover]

I mentioned this to Glass on their national forum when I was a member and surprisingly they never reacted! so I am now equally surprised that they are making an official complaint at this. Well done Glass - they appear to have put their teeth in at last!

Does that mean you will be rejoining GLASS the Dave?  :D

Cheers,

Nick

[datalas]

In defense of GLASS it has to be pointed out that they are walking a political tightrope and are quite frequently (I would imagine) the messenger to get shot from both sides.

In addition to that, take any organisation with a shed load of members with differing views regarding how to achieve something and it becomes nigh on impossible to do anything other than whip them into a frenzy of inaction.

Personally my views are a little obscured, I'd rather GLASS not be needed to be honest, however in the current climate we do need a voice and having met most of the top bods in GLASS (hi nick) I've found that voice to be eloquant and reasonable.   Sadly this means that it also has to be softly spoken on some issues lest GLASS become the BNP of rural affairs :-/

Having said that, with regards to 5th Gear, go for the throat.  It's a piddle poor program at the best of times, what we really need is more reality shows.   :twisted:


(All the above is in my opinion, and probably wrong)

[davidlandy]

Nick

I shall be reconsidering - have u rejoined this year!?

I feel that as I enjoy driving Greenlanes that morally I should be a member of the association that represents the users. And if they are now doing a good job of this ( a strategy)  then I dont mind them having my membership fee.


   

[Stripes]

just phoned a complaint in on this number 08457 050505
they will forward it on to the programe makers and the complaits commission

[Landyrover]

I shall be reconsidering - have u rejoined this year!?
   

Of course - it would be a bit tricky being the Northants Area Rep otherwise! :D And I have to pay membership for the privilage too! :shock:  

Nick

[muddyweb]

OK... I know I am going to be HUGELY unpopular for saying this, but here goes....

I've now seen the item from the programme, and I was surprised...  at the level and strength of the reaction !

Whilst I don't approve of the way he drove that lane, I have seen many of the people I've heard complaining (not just people here, before anyone thinks I'm having a go) driving in exactly the same way.  (Heck.. have a look in the member galleries and you will probably find some evidence of it)

Now whilst I appreciate that this situation was unique in as much as that the guy is doing it on national telly and as such makes the activity look bad... I think some people maybe need to take a look at their own driving style before sounding off.

There has now been a message flying around which talks about getting the guy reported to the Police and charged....    all I can say is that I hope nobody here encounters this level of victimisation for a poorly judged bit of driving  

There... I've said it... please don't hurl abuse at me... it's just my opinion.

[Thrasher]

I have not seen the article in question, so I am not qualified to pass judgement. However, I have "enjoyed" myself rather exhuberantly offroad. We all get taken by the thrill of it all.

There is a picture below - look at it, then look at your own pictures. It was not taken at a pay and play site.

[Hightower]

I think that the strength of the reaction is indicative of the volatile time we are in with regard to 4x4's, and the fact it was on the telly.  Anything like this is fuel for the anti's (if they watch such programmes as 5th Gear) and easy points against us.

That said I tend to agree with Tim.  Who here can honestly put their hands up and say they have never gone through a big puddle or muddy patch on a lane just that little bit too quickly?

As for Mr Ford, what is there to be gained from prosecuting him?  Make them publicly admit they were idiots (write an email to customerservices@five.tv) and then get them to pay for repairs to the lane.  It may even turn into good PR, you never know.

[ChrisW]

In a similar vein, I have been out on trips where it seemed that the lead vehicle/driver's purpose was to get the lanes done as quickly as possible, didn't even dare to stop for low ratio in case we got left behind / held everyone else up at times.

ps it was nobody here  

[hobbit]

In a similar vein, I have been out on trips where it seemed that the lead vehicle/driver's purpose was to get the lanes done as quickly as possible, didn't even dare to stop for low ratio in case we got left behind / held everyone else up at times.

ps it was nobody here  

As far as keeping together,  one tip is to make sure that the driver keeps the next vehicle in his rear view mirror when travelling, especially if you come across a junction, where more than one turning option is there

[Mace]

For those of you who have been to the Belgium Nationals, you'll know what I mean when I say we drive slowly on our public byways compared to our continental cousins. They seem to have an un written rule that states the minimum speed on any green lane is flat out. Honest, you have to see it to believe it. They are complete nutters.

[scorpio]

My problem with this is that this guy was in the public limelight and as such has a duty of care. The picture Thrasher shows if i am not mistaken i was the second vehicle behind him, but i would never put that picture on the forum or on my website. I pick very carefully what i display and have loads of pics that leave a lot to be desired. The difference is we dont go out to do it, that water splash was a very small part of a long lane and the way it was driven was not dangerous and would not have had any effect on the surrounding area or that lane.

I have done lanes where you get past the point of no return and 500 yards round the corner it is impassable but due to the very tight bend you have just come round the only way is forward. I have pics of  certain lanes we had to recover vehicles out off but no way would i put them on here or on my website.

This guy not only gave a bad impression but also made a mockery of the law and the greenlane code of conduct, in this very volatile time he should be made to at least apologise or as i feel he should be made to attend a lane repair weekend to help put right his actions.

[muddyweb]

Trouble is Pete... that's exactly my point.

One of the main reasons it seems this guy is being condemned is because he was on Telly...   if we drive like that and don't publicise it anywhere, does that make it OK ?

I am not condoning the way he drove the lane, nor (believe it or not) am I trying to be judgemental about the way other people (myself included) have driven lanes before.

What upsets me is the level of hipocrasy that has been demonstrated.  "Let he who is without guilt cast the first stone" and all that.

I have heard that many people have, at the suggestion of a circulated message, indeed contacted the police, to the extent that they have asked for no more correspondence on the matter.  Personally I think this sort of victimisation helps nobody.. and I sincerely hope they don't charge him.  All that will do in my view is make him a focus for the antis, saying that more people should be charged and that by proving his activities illegal (rather than just unwanted by the antis) there is a case for restriction the byways.  

As I said before... I have loads of pictures of people driving in the same (or a worse) manner than he was on that lane...  should I submit them to the Police as evidence ?   I don't believe that would be fair or right.  And more to the point, I think it would give more weight to the anti-argument than the pictures would themselves.

[datalas]

Having not seen the program I can't exactly comment, however I will say this, since it mirrors my opinion.   Since I have come to the conclusion that we need a unified, dignified and level headed voice in these matters, and that I believe GLASS to be that voice, I'm gonna let them deal with it, and get on with life :)

It's not like anybody actually watches Channel 5 anyhow ;)

[Hightower]

Just had this back from Channel Five:

Thank you for your recent e-mail regarding Fifth Gear.

We were sorry to read that the segment on the Discovery caused you concern. The programme was not intended to be an exploration of the issue of green laning and 4x4s, simply a road test of the new vehicle.

We feel that Tom Ford was not driving in a way that caused danger to other users of the green lane where we filmed. The speed he was driving at may have seemed exaggerated by the angles and editing techniques. However, we are confident that in reality he was driving no more than 10-15 mph. We are sure that many people enjoy driving in a similar manner on green lanes and are currently within their rights to do so. Also, as far as Five is aware, he was not doing anything illegal by driving down a green lane in wet weather conditions.

It is unlikely Fifth Gear will cover the subject in greater detail, though the strength of your feelings on this subject have been noted.

We have logged your comments in the Viewer Enquiries Report, which is circulated throughout the company.  Also, your complaint will be noted in the quarterly report to our regulator.  Commercial television is regulated in the UK by Ofcom (the Office of Communications).

Thank you for your interest in Five.

[fesuvious]

a pat on the head

[Eeyore]

Now then,

Gleaned from the GLASS website, and other sources; posted below is the official GLASS statement regarding the Channel 5, Fifth Gear Discovery 3 review.

cheers
Eeyore

Green Lane Association Condemns Channel 5's Motoring Program

Following the recent Channel 5, Fifth Gear program featuring a review of the Discovery 3, GLASS has undertaken a campaign to get Channel 5, Fifth Gear and the presenter, Mr T Ford, to publicly apologise for the behavior, attitude and sentiments demonstrated therein. GLASS is seeking a retraction of the feature in question and a further article to demonstrate more appropriate laning attitudes.

The aim of the Discovery 3 review was to demonstrate the competency of the vehicle, whilst highlighting the pleasures of green laning to the 4x4 buying public. It is clear that the activities undertaken during the review were very much contrary with how we wish to have our chosen hobby portrayed in the media.

GLASS has a 16 point Code of Conduct that outlines what GLASS considers to be responsible laning behavior. During the aforementioned review, Mr Ford breached at least four points of the Code of Conduct. Whether Mr Ford was guilty of breaching any laws however, is a matter of much debate and conjecture. Certainly, Mr Ford demonstrated a high degree of irresponsibility, both for his actions directly and for encouraging others to copy him. GLASS considers that due to the subjective nature of his behavior, it cannot support any legal action against the producers of Fifth Gear or Mr Ford.

GLASS has a remit to promote sensible driving in the countryside. Our aim is to secure and support the long-term future of green laning. The Directors and Executive Committee considers that any legal action brought against the program producers and Mr Ford would set a legal precedent that may prematurely and effectively end our freedom to drive green lanes. The Directors and Executive Committee of GLASS consider that we must foster an attitude of education before criminalisation.

GLASS will pursue Channel 5, Fifth Gear and Mr Ford for an apology and for a retraction of the Discovery 3 review most vehemently.

Nic Blundell,
Chairman,
Green Lane Association.
PO Box 48
Huntingdon
PE26 2XR

Fax: 01354 677476