Key facts
- Baroness Sharron Davies is facing a speeding trial after being caught driving at 65mph in a temporary 50mph zone on the M4.
- Davies denies the charge, stating that the signage indicating the reduced speed limit was "so poor it was easy to miss".
- She claims she was unaware of the speed limit reduction from the usual 70mph.
- The former Olympic swimmer has a 45-year driving record without prior contested fines.
- A trial is scheduled to take place next year, with a case management hearing set for October 21.
Olympic swimmer Baroness Sharron Davies is preparing to contest a speeding ticket in court, asserting that unclear motorway signage led to her unintentional violation of a temporary speed limit. Davies, 63, was driving her Mini at 65mph on the M4 motorway near junction 19 in South Gloucestershire late at night on October 15 last year, when the speed limit had been reduced to 50mph due to roadworks.
Davies, who was excused from a pre-trial hearing at Bath Magistrates' Court, has pleaded not guilty. In statements read to the court, she argued that the signage was "so poor it was easy to miss" and that she did not see clear indications of the reduced limit, believing she was still within the standard 70mph. She noted the light traffic and absence of workmen at the time, questioning if this factored into the signage or confusion.
Her defence solicitor, Laura Singleton, indicated that the case hinges on the visibility of the signage, with an expert report to be provided. Prosecutor Mark Thorpe stated that evidence would be presented to support the contention that the signage was sufficient. Presiding justice Gail Bragg adjourned proceedings for a case management hearing on October 21, with full disclosure to be made by the prosecution to the defence.
Davies, a 1980 Olympic silver medallist and former Commonwealth champion, has a 45-year driving record without ever contesting a speeding fine. She was made a life peer last year, nominated by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, and sits in the House of Lords as Baroness Davies of Devonport, where she advocates for women's sports. Her case highlights broader issues with variable speed limits and signage on smart motorways, which have previously led to disputed fines.