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London cab driver George Smith became the first person ever arrested for drunk driving after slamming his cab into a building on 10th September, 1897. He was fined 20 shillings (around \xa3130 in today's money) - but was not banned from the road.\nThe vehicle he was driving only had a top speed of 12 mph, but, unfortunately for him, the building he crashed into was the home of celebrated actor Sir Henry Irving - which might be why he was the first person charged with a law that had technically been on the books since 1872.\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly reveal the role of shame in declining drink-driving convictions; explain what the \u2018Drunkometer\u2019 was; and question whether Smith should be forgiven for his \u2018Cheeky Thursday\u2019...\xa0\nFurther Reading:\n\u2022 \u2018First Drunk Driving Arrest\u2019 (HISTORY, 2020): https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-drunk-driving-arrest\n\u2022 Fifty Years Of Anti-Drink Driving Ads (Sky News, 2014): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW2dWqTkDBM\n\u2022 \u201814 of the most ridiculous and hilarious excuses heard in court for drink and drug driving\u2019 (Somerset Live, 2019): https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/14-most-ridiculous-hilarious-excuses-3406709\nFor bonus material and to support the show, visit\xa0Patreon.com/Retrospectors\nWe'll be back on Monday! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts:\xa0podfollow.com/Retrospectors\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Emma Corsham.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2021.\xa0\n#1800s #Person #Crime #Technology #Politics #UK\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices