National 'Drive It Day'

Drive It Day - 3rd Sunday in April

Drive it Day commemorates the Thousand-Mile Trial on 23rd April 1900.

The Royal Automobile Club Thousand Mile Trial started in London and passed through Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, then through Scotland before returning via many more English Cities until they were back in London again.


The trial lasted until May 12th and 46 out of the 64 starting cars made it to the finish line. This was no mean feet when you consider that the occupants sat on, and not in, these automobiles


Speed limits at that time were 12mph on country roads and 8mph in towns


Walter Arnold of East Peckham, Kent, had the dubious honour of being the first person in Great Britain to be successfully charged with speeding on 28 January 1896. Travelling at approximately 8mph, he had exceeded the 2mph speed limit for towns and was fined one shilling plus costs.


He had been caught by a policeman who had given chase on a bicycle.