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A recent episode of BBC2's Top Gear saw the thrill-seeking hosts take part in yet another madcap motoring adventure, but is this just encouraging viewers to risk car accidents and should they show a greater regard for safety?
Many would think that the presenters would have learnt a very valuable lesson after Richard Hammond's brush with death in a serious car accident that left him comatose last year, however, the reality seems far removed from this.
During September 2006, Hammond attempted to break the land speed record and, while travelling at 288 mph, the jet-powered car that he was driving suffered a tyre blowout. It was sent spinning across the racetrack, leaving Hammond upside down with his head embedded in the grass.
He was airlifted to hospital with serious personal injuries, including suspected brain damage, yet, miraculously, after many weeks recovered to his former daredevil self, seemingly unperturbed by his near death experience.
The Health and Safety Executive carried out an investigation into the car accident but, seeing as all the presenters are well aware of the dangerous aspects of the job they undertake and hefty insurance policies are in place, so far no personal injury compensation claims have resulted and fearless Hammond has decided to continue regardless.
Then just a few weeks ago Hammond was involved in yet another car crash less than a year after the accident that almost took his life. While driving a BMW 330 Dti Sport in a 24-hour Le Mans-style race at Silverstone the 37-year-old skidded off the track but, luckily, was not injured this time.
The most recently aired Top Gear challenge carries on from a previous event that saw the hosts each transform a car into an amphibious vehicle, all of which were then launched into the water and tested for buoyancy. However, this time around Top Gear took this several steps further and the cars were re-modified and then driven down to Dover in order to attempt an English Channel crossing. Techniques involved filling parts of the car with foam so as to improve buoyancy but using pumps to get rid of unwanted water as it flowed onboard was not on their agenda.
As usual, the hosts managed to make a right hash of things, all contributing to the amusement of the show. James May's vehicle didn't even make it more than a few metres from the slipway and eventually Richard Hammond's amphibious car headed towards the seabed. After several rescue attempts, a close encounter with a rather large ferry entering the harbour, as well as four false starts, all three presenters set sail, butch, baker and candlestick maker style, onboard Jeremy Clarkson's vehicle for France.
The first obstacle that needed tackling on the open sea was coming face-to-face with the shipping lanes. Huge tankers and ferries surrounded the pathetic excuse for a vehicle that would struggle to be classed as road-worthy, let alone sea worthy, but after a bit of negotiation and perseverance, they made it through.
Soon after, they received an overhead visit from the coastguard who was curious to know their reason for being out in the middle of the Channel in a makeshift boat. The BBC2 presenters explained that they desperately wanted to beat Richard Branson's record time for the crossing in a similar vehicle; this was good enough for the coastguard and they were yet again on their way.
Things looked like they were going to come to sticky end when just eight miles from shore outspoken Clarkson's engine started to flood. His crew attempted to bail the water out with teacups (?) to little effect but, surprisingly to viewers and the Top Gear gang, the vehicle did see French land.
The next part of the challenge was to get the vehicle up the boat ramp and as beach goers ran for cover, May hooked a rope around the front bumper, Clarkson revved his tiring outboard and Hammond and some onlookers heaved the car-boat up the ramp, the challenge was a success; for one of the amphibious vehicles at least.
On this occasion, amazingly, no boat accidents, car accidents or amphibious vehicle accidents took place but there were a number of close calls and cringe worthy moments.
With this series of the controversial motor show off to a bang it is thought that such daredevil antics will not be retired from any time soon.
It was believed that the show might be axed after Hammond's terrible car accident last year but with filming for this series still ongoing and the show's popularity among a widespread audience growing, it is not expected that Top Gear will come to an any time soon. However, safety issues may undergo another review before long.
