SIR — The Government is talking of introducing mandatory 20 mph speed limits in all towns and villages.

I applaud this wholeheartedly, as someone who has seen too often the results of speeding in terms of broken bodies and ruined lives.

In 2008, 2,538 people died and nearly a quarter of a million were injured on British roads, according to Department of Transport data.

Road travel is far deadlier than going by train or plane. If that number were killed in a terrorist atrocity or an epidemic, we would all rightly be appalled. But these deaths were mostly preventable.

The introduction of 20 mph zones in London was associated with a 40 per cent reduction in casualties and collisions, especially involving children.

Pedestrians have an 80 per cent risk of being killed when hit by a car travelling at 40 mph, whereas most car occupants will survive. A  five per cent increase in average speed results in a 20 per cent increase in fatal crashes.

The chances of survival for pedestrians and cyclists diminish rapidly at speeds over 20 mph. Recent research published in the British Medical Journal shows this very clearly.

Death rates among child pedestrians in Great Britain are worse than in France, the Netherlands, Japan, Austria, Australia and Belgium in terms of the number killed as a proportion of the population.

One problem is that modern cars are so quiet and smooth running that the perceived speed is often much less than the actual speed, and they are built to be much safer for the occupants, but this may make them more dangerous for pedestrians.

Surely in a civilised society we should be willing to put the welfare of the vulnerable before our own craving for speed?

It is far more mature and laudable to drive with consideration for other road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders than to show off by zooming round as fast as you can go.

That is childish and silly, as well as extremely inconsiderate and dangerous.

All towns and villages should have a 20 mph limit which should be rigorously enforced, with speed humps and whatever else it takes to slow drivers down. Country lanes should have a limit if 40 mph.

No-one needs to speed. I am frequently shocked at the way cars speed in Minehead, especially in Friday Street and the one way systems, and in Exmoor lanes where however well you know your road, you never know what is round the next corner. 

We should all grow up and slow down.

Dr Lesley Evans,

Bossington Lane,

Porlock.