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OBITUARY
Safe Speed Founder Gives Up Life for Road Safety http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SafeSpeedPR
The Safe Speed Campaign are greatly saddened, by the sudden death of the founder, Paul Smith, 52, on Thursday 13th December 2007. He had suffered a second heart attack in August, and was awaiting a triple bypass operation.
From an early age he stood out as a very bright chap, wanting to take things apart, rather than play with them, always wanting to learn.
He was an extremely talented driver, and sought out the best tutors to obtain the best advice to improve his passion for driving. He occasionally challenged their advice, if he felt it was incorrect, and proved his points through engineering and physics knowledge. He made them think, and won their respect and admiration.
As a highly sought after computer electronics engineer, (80's), he was devoted to giving his clients the very best possible hardware and software developments.
This lead to several amazing and very advanced inventions of the time, which he has left to the World, whenever, it is ready for them. His lighting controller (with a colleague), is second to none.
His passion for engineering and art grew into computer generated images and animation, resulting in the Worlds best support group back in 1992 (Raytech BBS). He wrote 1000's of programs to make the entire system work. His computer programming talent was world class. This led into a very successful computer sales business, but this mass of work resulted in his first heart attack, and so he needed a change.
A chanced story about a lady whose life was ruined, all for the sake of a few speeding fines, saw him create one of the most respected and loved websites for driving ever created, www.safespeed.org.uk After spending 5000 hrs studying the Government statistics and conclusions, on camera policy, it just did not add up. The more he looked, the more his concerns grew. It was wrong, unbelievable, he had to act, and so the creation of Safe Speed (2001), gave him the platform to put across his findings.
The website grew rapidly, along with the many interviews on radio and TV. Gradually the press listened and the MP's questioned the current thinking. Paul was in his element, his greatest challenge, and he loved it. No matter how hard the Government tried, the more he stood up to the challenges.
Like Paul reiterated, "First they ignore you, Then they mock you, Then they fight you, Then you win." (Mahatma Gandhi) He truly believed that he had all, but won. He sincerely hoped that proper road policy and research, were going to be back on the menu, and people would stop being killed.
One man against overwhelming odds, running a campaign on a shoestring. He was proud - so very proud, as finally honesty was breaking though. His words were flying off the pages daily. The World knows of Paul Smith of Safe Speed.
And now Claire says "it is our turn, to develop Paul Smith's Safe Speed Campaign, from the solid foundation that Paul planted, so that all governments may never forget, that it is the people that they stand for, and it is our respect that they they have to earn."
Paul Smith has surely saved lives, perhaps now he knows who. A unique amazingly intelligent individual, a true gentleman, that the world may not see the like of again. His rapid ability to analyse, unravel and reveal the core problems, of the DofT figures, and to communicate his findings so clearly, as well as provide reasoned arguments back to the Government, was outstanding, and will be a great loss to all those that honestly seek to improve road safety.
His own Downing Street petition to scrap speed cameras and, without much help from the media, achieved 28,000 signatures. He was quoted by the New York Times as the best quote of the day (world-wide), and the Observer largely attributed him, to causing the Government, to have a moratorium on speed cameras.
His inescapable conclusion was "We must return to proper Road Safety Policies, that gave us the safest roads in the World" and argued vigorously, "automated speed enforcements is neither safe or appropriate." and stated "Speed Kills is too simplistic, other reasons must be looked at for the 'fatality gap'" as Paul himself, called it. His pursuit of truth was relentless and ultimately hastened his own end. His world class sound bites and direct speech, made him not only a joy to listen to, but a man of reason with a passion for truth.
He is survived by his partner of 24 years, Claire Armstrong, who is equally passionate about safe driving and will continue to hold the Government to account for their failed road safety policies. Claire says "I will miss him forever, he was my soul mate, but his work will be developed and will continue to grow from strength to strength. The Safe Speed Campaign has 1000's of supporters, around the Globe, and we will use the talents of many, to replace those that we came to rely on from Paul. He literally worked 'til he dropped, dying at his desk, doing what he loved, in the pursuit of truth to save lives. He will be sorely missed."
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