WITH the letter Wrong message identifying that drivers have been caught driving at more than 150mph, and asking What message does this send out to the racers in our society?' (Radcliffe Times, Opinion, August 10).

Given global warming, shouldn’t we also be asking why do we have cars that can do more than 70mph? Only an idiot would have their central heating full-on 24/7 for 12 months of the year, so why allow drivers to unlawfully drive at these speeds?

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents estimates 560,000 people have been killed on UK roads.

We’ve fought two world wars for liberty, put man on the moon, can create babies in test tubes, and yet children aren’t at liberty to play in the street, as my generation did in the 50s, without fear of being killed.

How can parents and grandparents love speed? People who can’t afford cars and public transport, must walk or cycle. They don't have air-bags and crumple zones — speed limits protect them.

It’s not too long ago that, the likes of Audi, BMW and Toyota where being advertised on TV, along the lines of being “born” on the race track, or “bred” from racing cars!

Inciting drivers to "race" on the road, was it not?

Also, I recently saw an advert on a petrol pump at an Esso petrol station: it shows a Formula One racing car, (fuelling the love of speed), with the message "Fuel your racing dream. The new fast. The new season. The new partnership".

If it’s wrong to advertise cigarettes and encourage children to consume sugary foods/drinks, it surely has to be wrong to encourage drivers to race on public roads.

With suggestions that energy prices could be capped to help the poor, then capping speeds, to protect poor and vulnerable road users — from children on free school meals, to the visually impaired — is surely a no brainer.

With the government now planning to remove speeds bumps to cut pollution, a Department of Transport study found that more than 80 per cent of drivers exceed 20mph speed limits, speed limiters are surely also a no brainer.

More than 3 million people a year are killed prematurely by outdoor air pollution, according to a landmark new study, more than malaria and HIV/Aids combined. A simple net prevents malaria. Isn't a speed limiter a simple net?

To speed or not to speed? That is the question.

Allan Ramsay

Roadpeace