I agree with JS Holden that in today's society we have moved too far in the direction of regulations in the attempt to remove all risk, and also that many drivers do not take seriously enough their responsibility to develop their skill.

However, I would like to take issue with his attitude to regulations, and especially speed limits. The fact that most drivers overestimate their skill is one of the things that makes regulation necessary and in the case of speed most drivers do not understand the physics of motion.

Part of being skilful as a driver is understanding that speed is a critical factor in road safety.

The single most significant way for any driver to reduce the danger that they pose to other road users is to keep their speed down.

Because we are less likely to be able to stop if something suddenly happens in front of us, and also any collision that does occur causes more damage, increasing speed makes us much more dangerous.

In fact, a crude calculation assuming an alert and skilful driver suggests that the danger posed by a motor vehicle to other road users increases as the fourth power of its speed. This would mean for example that accelerating from 28 mph to 33mph doubles the risk to others! Conversely, slowing down from 30 to 25 or from 60 to 50 halves the danger.

Although it is probably not realistic to expect everyone to master even basic physics, users of dangerous machinery have a responsibility to understand something about its characteristics.

We tend to see being able to drive as a necessity rather than a privilege, so of course there are less skilful drivers among us.

However, those who consider themselves good drivers need to recognise that slowing down reduces the inevitable risk that every vehicle, including their own, poses to other road users, especially to pedestrians and cyclists.

A speed limit represents a publicly agreed compromise between the convenience of the motorist and the safety of others. I may not agree that it is the right compromise for that place, but deciding it does not apply to me does not feel so good when a child suddenly chases a ball into the road.

A Otto,

Trowbridge