I would like to ask those who find getting a speeding ticket not acceptable, or who dislike for any form of speed control on roads around Pershore, to take in a few national statistics.

Speed is a major contributory factor in about a third of all road collisions.

This means that each year excessive and inappropriate speed contributes to the death of around 850 people and injuries to over 33,000 more.

This is far more than any other single contributor to casualties on our roads.

In urban areas, pedestrians and cyclists are the majority of speed casualties, especially children. This should come as no surprise as this is where most of the population live.

Hit a child at 40mph: only 20 per cent could survive

Hit a child at 30mph: 80 per cent could survive

Hit a child at 20mph: 95 per cent could survive

The speed limit is the maximum that you are allowed to drive.

There is nothing in the Highway Code that says you have to drive at the top end of the speed limit all the time. What’s wrong with driving below it?

Residential roads are what they say they are: families live on these roads and most probably have children. So why should we put up with speeding motorists of both sexes, all types of vehicles and all age groups. Don’t just blame the younger generation!

P Osborn

Pershore