News reached us today that 83% of women would not want a fellow driver to offer assistance even if they were alone in their car and had broken down at night. Even 47% of blokes wouldn't want help. That's a dreadful lack of trust being expressed in our fellow citizens.

It is of course the result of a survey from a motoring organisation eager to flog roadside assistance packages, but let's just scratch the surface for a moment and ask why we've got into this state. Who's to blame? Well the Government of course - we can safely blame them for most of the ills of the world. However, sadly in this case the media are really the villains of the peace.

Newsjam

The multi-channel society we live in brings us news 24 hours a day even if we don't want it. Get a train to work and you'll be peering over the newspapers of others. Listen to any radio station and they'll have news bulletins every hour if not more frequently. TV schedules are structured around news reports. If you're a real news addict - and I include myself there - then there are a multitude of 24 hour news channels beaming the world into our living rooms and dictating the topic of the day.

In such a media deluge the perceived way to attract readers/viewers and listeners is to sensationalise the news. Witness the stories this week of a motorcyclist killed by two cars racing in south London. Young lads have raced cars in the streets since Henry Ford was a nipper, yet the media today was full of references to the Fast and the Furious and blaming Max Power magazine for the 'trend'. Motoring is safer now than it's ever been yet motorists are the biggest criminals in society. Why though? With much of the media critical of Government policy, we should question why this particular 'public education' is supported by the media. Despite a general stance of questioning Government decisions, the media toes the line on any sensitive issues. 'Political Correctness' - I don't know who coined the term, but it is in itself a PC term - how about we replace it with 'weakness of character'?

Pigeons

Sadly, hand in hand with the desire to sensationalise all new stories, is the need to pigeon hole all members of society. We're as guilty as any other news outlet of course, but our despair at numpty drivers is born out of good humour and the despressing hypocrisy that sees all motorists are perceived as villains.

Coupled with the need to sensationalise and pigeon-hole is the desire for blame. There's no such thing as an accident any more. No one is allowed to make a mistake at work. Where there's blame there's a claim. No matter how unlikely the set of circumstances that lead to an incident, we are now duty bound to put more rules and procedures in place to prevent it happening again. How's about we sometimes accept that shit happens? Life's too short to regulate our way to the grave. Pay attention to the next news item you hear - it will be topped and tailed with who was to blame and what a shockingly callous bastard the person is. Don't make a mistake at work any more - a virtual public flogging by TV is all that awaits.

Meldews

True journalism is almost dead. Earlier in the week, middle aged people were pigeon holed as 'Meldrews' for whinging about the state of the country. Once again the media took the lowest common denominator. They looked at the results of the survey and mocked. Nowhere was the suggestion that this might be the most free-thinking section of society exercising its vocal rights. These days scumbag journos report the facts, conjour the rest up and file their 'shocking' report. Talk to many people now about any news item and they'll sing from the same hymn sheet about how awful it is, without questioning the content or motives of the writer for a moment. Daily Mail readers take note.

Take asylum seekers - you couldn't get a section of society with a worse rep. Do we really know the facts that are representative of their plight? Sensationalist stories of abuse of our social security system and exploitation are highlighted to us, turning us - the nation - against the group as a whole. How fair is that on the thousands of refugees seeking genuine help with incredible tales of hardship and suffering? They are now looked down upon, mocked and despised by our society as a whole. The media are responsible for a mass manipulation of society similar to that which occurred in 1930's Germany.

The Future's Bleak

The media in this country riding a wave of pseudo-reality which is painting an unrepresentative and depressing view of modern Britain. News is reported in line with 'current thinking'. It's time that the newspapers, TV and radio woke up and provided some genuinely thought-provoking coverage of the issues of the day.

Next week on PistonHeads: Ted takes the piss out of caravanners, Nissan drivers and traffic wardens...