Letter: Reasons for speed limit on motorway

Peter Rhodes in his column on February 9 mocked the fact that 17 motorists a day had been caught speeding on the M5 in a 40mph limit.

He said: "Very clever. It would be even cleverer if the authorities could tell us how to keep below 40mph on a motorway when all three lanes are full and there's 40 tons of juggernaut six feet from your bumper with all lights flashing?"

Figures show that the M5 at that point is used by about 9,000 vehicles per day, so 8,983 drivers can easily tell Mr Rhodes, because they managed it.

The speed limit is in force because there is work to replace the central barrier, so there is a safety issue with the barrier out of place, plus the safety of the road workers to consider.

The issue is that 17 motorists chose to put other drivers and workers at risk by refusing to stick to a necessary temporary limit. I have had to stand on the motorway in the past while at work and it is a frightening experience.

Oh, and in case Mr Rhodes can't talk to any of the vast majority of drivers, or work it out for himself, he can set his cruise control, or he can drop from fifth to fourth gear and he can follow the 99.8 per cent of drivers doing 40mph or less. After all, if there is a juggernaut bearing down on him, he can't go anywhere if all three lanes are full.

John Price

Longdon-on-Tern