Letters: Perils of speed

Perils of speed

Sir: In the debate about speed limits (letters, 22, 23, 24, 27 September), the assertion is often made that it is bad driving that causes accidents, not speed. This is disingenuous. As speed increases, the margin for error becomes less favourable and the risk of accident increases, no matter how accomplished the driver.

Speed limits need to reflect the capabilities of the typical road user. Most are not expert cricketers or mathematicians, so it is reasonable to assume they are not expert drivers either. This is why many lives would be saved if we drove at a maximum of 20 mph on most urban streets, and 50 mph on single carriageways out of town.

Motorists who consider themselves highly skilled, who enjoy driving and would prefer not to slow down believe it would be terribly unfair if their experience was made less stimulating. Their disappointment would be a price worth paying.

M C ALDRIDGE

Winchester