Ban them all. Government organizations should strip us of all liberties and restrict us all to public transportation. It is only because of these events that that people drive too fast in the first place. Outside of these rallys, accidents would never occur due to high speed or fatigue. How dare these people excercise freedom of choice and attempt to have fun!!!

Turbo, NYC,

All you have to do is look for "team polizei" and you'll see why they want to ban these events. To call this reaction "knee jerk" is ridiculous, it's not based on two deaths, it's based on the fact those two deaths have been a long time coming. It's right, nobody should be racing on the roads at all, but some (indeed many) of the competitors turn it into a proper race, driving at speeds of over 180mph and driving recklessly in doing so.

You just have to look at the past Gumball events to know this happens and it leads to very big accidents, it would be fair if drivers stuck to reasonable speeds (not necessarily the speed limit) but many simply do not and drive with no regard for other road users.

If a ban does happen there's only one group of people to blame and that's the people who abuse the roads they drive on i.e the competitors.

Daniel Cavanagh, Kings Lynn, UK

Last year a person died every day on the irish roads and the carnage continues to this day.

what are you going to do ban everyone?

J, dublin,

Banning events such as the Gumball is a ridiculous knee-jerk reaction to a tragic accident. Yes the driver should have been more careful, yes people in high powered cars should be aware that they are more of a hazard than other drivers, but banning entire events is extreme and arbitrary.

This awful incident where 2 elderly people have died is solely the fault of the driver concerned. He was obviously not responsible enough to be driving a high powered car. It is not the fault of the event he was part of. Are music festivals banned because some people are hospitalised through excessive drug use? no. Are extreme sports events cancelled because someone falls off a cliff? no. These events are terrible for those involved, but they are recognised as accidents.

Events like the Gumball are set up in the name of fun, good humour and adventure and in the most part are carried out in that spirit. Hopefully the authorities will realise this.

Katy, UK,

"Gumball’s organisers describe it as “an excuse for aristocratic delinquency” but say that there is no prize for coming first.

However, two women who took part in 2005 won the “spirit of Gumball” prize after getting stopped seven times for speeding"

They may have got stopped 7 times but they also did not get any fines or tickets either.... Perhaps the police need to work out why?? Perhaps they used there sexual prowess to avoid a ticket or the police accepted bribes... To have been stopped 7 times and not got a single ticket or fine... That is Spirit of the Gumball

It should not be banned.

Jonathan, Reading,

For those who want to go the extra mile try 'Carbon Black - that's more exclusive than Gumball and cost the organiser £500,000 out of his own pocket to fly a few people around to the launch party earlier this year.

Like it or not the people that attended thought it was the best organised car event they had ever been to.

As far as the debate is concerned, I agree with John. Let people have a bit of fun. In the scheme of things, given the amount of cars/ participants it is obviously sad and tragic but actually not that alarming. I think most people want to have a pop at the filthy rich taking part more than anything else... Green-eyed monster.

Marc, Bath

Marc, Bath,

The section of the article which mentions average speeds encouraging drivers to drive too fast is not entirely accurate. Many such road rallies will likely stipulate in the course notes that the average speed required to complete on time is below the maximum speed limit of the country concerned. It would be illegal for them to do the contrary.

If the participants then choose to speed, that is their decision, and rules will state 'on their head be it'.....just as it is should they choose to speed at any other time and under normal circumstances.

Is the accident a tragedy? Yes, but it could have been any road in any other country that same day. I've yet to see any report to suggest speed was the only factor, too.

It is very narrow minded to assume all such rallies are inhabited by 'rich twits' who have no concern for others. Many average people enjoy these events (including untimed events) and complete them without incident. A blanket ban would be very, very wrong.

Mark, Birmingham,

Ban the Gumball. Fine. Bunch of wealthy tossers who are a danger to themselves and everyone else on the road. Driving all day and drinking (and what else?!) all night doth not a safe driver make. I'm amazed it's taken as long as it has for someone to get killed.

I love my sportscars, I love going on regular group trips to Europe with friends in a convoy. We don't race so why should we be banned from enjoying our cars for what they are for because of the actions of some idiots with more cash than sense?

White Rabbit, London,

Well said eric - what this world needs is more bitter, sour faced killjoys who resent other peoples success and the trappings that come with it. We need more of the sort of intrepid nonentities who waste time writing comments to newspapers that nobody ever reads because they probably can't afford a restaurant, never mind a Lucinda. Probably.

Peter, Posh bit of London,

We live in a world now obsessed with health and safety issues and wrapping people up in cotton wool.

Organisers come to a compromise with the authorities and disclose the routes to officials. Race organisers to give percentage of proceeds to charity.

Accidents will happen, thats life, should not stop people living.

Eric, sounds to me like you have a class issue, the forum is about the race events - not the people taking part. Its your own insecurities that are making you angry.

.....go buy a Ferrari and sign up, you might just like it :-)

John, Glasgow, Scotland

Ban the races. Then make a start banning these brainless yahoos from everything else - e.g. yapping loudly in restaurants, vomiting champagne, having vacuous screeching girlfriends called Lucinda and Annabel, wearing striped jackets and straw hats, coming up to York Racecourse , saying Yah, breathing etc..

eric, harrogate , uk