Featuring in the 'lexicon' in this month's citycycling:
.otherwise law-abiding motorist n.
For example used in the following type of sentence: "20mph zones just criminlaise oherwise law-abiding motorists."
Used to describe any situation where a ridiculous control is placed on motorised traffic, usually for spurious reasons such as safety, or making an urban environment more pleasant. It recognises that motorists would never break the law if laws weren't put in place and that, much like old dogs, they cannnot adapt to new laws being put in place. Therefore, if a 30mph zone is changed to a 20mph zone a motorist is physically incapable of driving at a slower limit and so but for the change in limit he wouldn't break the law. But because of the change he has to break the law, despite in every other circumstance he doesn't break the law.
See also 'otherwise law-abiding shopper' (who steals Mars Bars, but otherwise does not indulge in shoplifting); and 'otherwise law-abiding late night street walker' (who only kills prostitutes with a hammer, but in all other respects is a really nice chap who was lovely to live next door to).
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