Monday's Letters: The blame for speeding must rest with the motorist

The fact is that drivers get tickets purely because of failures on their part, but they rarely blame themselves.

Exceeding the limit on hilly terrain has absolutely nothing to do with the type of vehicle being driven; whether it be an environmentally friendly car or a Ferrari, it is due to incorrect gear selection, which is the responsibility of the driver.

Select the correct gear for a descent, and any speed from about five mph can be maintained without the use of brakes. She should ask herself if drivers are unable to control the speed of the car, whatever type it is and over whatever topography it is moving, should they really be driving at all?

I for one would be concerned about a driver's ability to control a vehicle if they can't stick to a speed limit going up and down hills.

Fit auto limiters and the next excuse for getting a ticket will be the auto limiter didn't tell me the speed limit had reduced.

From: Dave Partridge, Leeds

From: JW Smith, Sutton-on-Sea, Lincolnshire.

WHY is it that so many people, even if they own a knife or a gun, would never dream of harming anyone else, but once they are cocooned in a metal box on wheels, they could not give a damn for anybody?

There is no argument against it, because speed limits are in force for the protection of others and any transgression simply emphasises the point.

I live on a street which leads straight on to an A class road. There is a distance of approximately a quarter of a mile between the 30mph sign and a roundabout. Between these points including my own, there are four streets, several houses with drives, houses with front doors opening on to the pavement and a care home.

In August last year, at the invitation of the local road safety committee, a group of us volunteered to do a speed monitoring exercise at three locations round the town. These were purely a statistical count with no legal redress whatsoever.

During a period of 10 days, we carried out a total of 24 counts lasting one-and-a-half to two hours each, eight of which were on the road next to where I live.

The monitor was set up about 150 yards inside the 30mph sign and over the eight counts, 92 per cent of vehicles were doing in excess of 35mph, this being the lowest speed checked although we counted every vehicle. The highest speed we recorded was one car doing 57mph.

As an example of the attitude of some drivers, one having been clocked at 38mph, returned and complained the machine was wrong because he checked as he passed it and he was "only doing 35mph". Guilty by his own mouth, I suggest, but what he didn't realise was that speed was checked by a beam set in advance of the screen.

People who have been caught by speed cameras have raised a vociferous campaign against them, but the answer has always been in their own hands – stay within the limit.

It is naive for the Rev Neil McNicholas (Yorkshire Post, July 31) and others like him to suggest it would be better to pay for more officers in cars to patrol roads as they do in America. For myself, I have never had any problem with speed monitoring whether human or mechanical. My cars have always been equipped with a permanent device which is called my right foot. I do not exceed speed limits as I do believe in the safety of other people.

Banking on the internet is a nightmare

From: H Marjorie Gill, Clarence Drive, Menston.

MOBILE banking, as described by Brett King (Yorkshire Post, August 3), is a wonderful system for the young to middle-aged, but a horrible trial for those who have not mastered the ability to access the internet banking system.

It is rather like the people who tell us all to use public transport, showing a youngish fellow with a briefcase jumping on and off trams or buses with carefree ease – never thinking of mothers with prams, elderly people with arthritis and breathing problems of course.

Some years ago, I was able to access my bank account, then for some reason or other I lost my password and no-one will tell me how to get it back or get another.

To me, direct debits are a horrible idea and for one who likes to keep her accounts up to the minute and put all her money into the best interest bearing accounts, which means of course keeping as little cash as possible in my current account, it is really a pain to find that the date of direct debit payments are wildly out and no-one tells me the amount I should expect.

The idea that we must all find our way on to the internet is a nightmare which I hope will not occur for another 10 years or so. It is time to make things easier, not more complicated, Mr King. Cheques and cash were wonderful inventions, and shouldn't be phased out until everyone is completely competent in the new type of working.

Stand up for our freedom

From: Maureen Hunt, Woolley, near Wakefield.

IN the referendum of June 1975, the majority of people in our country voted for the United Kingdom to remain in the European Community. We voted for a common market. It was a trading agreement. We did not vote to become a part of the EU superstate which now exists.

In 1998, the Human Rights Act was passed in Westminster which made the European Convention on Human Rights part of the law of all parts of the United Kingdom.

It is this Act which is responsible for the absurdity of the situation in which Ian Huntley, a double child murderer, is able to demand 100,000 from the prison service for injuries inflicted by a fellow inmate, whereas Sarah Payne's mother received the sum of 8,000 following the murder of her daughter.

This is immoral and disgraceful and no prisoner should be able to benefit personally for monies paid in an award. This is but one of many abuses carried out in the name of Human Rights.

Will our new Prime Minister, David Cameron, have the courage to repeal the 1998 Act and replace it with a bill of Human Rights based on English Common Law and sound common sense?

The coalition Government has agreed to examine the case for a UK Sovereignty Bill to make it clear that ultimate authority remains with Parliament.

This is essential and we should retain our national veto to protect our interests.

The sorry spectacle of our Government following meekly in the footsteps of Brussels, submitting to their dictates and stipulations, is a pitiful and degrading sight.

During two world wars, we were undefeated but we appear to have become impotent in the face of a silent, insidious, pervasive invasion which is slowly undermining our autonomy.

We cannot allow the freedom of our country, for which so many fought and died, to be jeopardised. We owe it to them to stand up, shake off our inertia and compliance, and take action before it is too late. Mr Cameron, we are relying on you.

Two Good Samaritans

From: Dorothy Longbottom, Croft Way, Menston.

MAY I through the Yorkshire Post thank John and Fran Scales of Skidby, Cottingham, for their help last Thursday, when my walking companion had to be taken by air ambulance to the Cook Hospital, Middlesbrough from the rather remote moors around Rosedale.

Mobile phones would not pick up a signal so also thanks to Helen Russell of Edenthorpe who walked a further mile to a farmhouse to ring for help.

John and Fran went well out of their way to take me back to Thirsk where I was able to make contact with relatives. Luckily, all is well (my friend has a dislocated shoulder). In the words of the parable, may we all, if needed, "go and do likewise".

Please leave the dogs at home

From: John Watson, Hutton Hill, Leyburn.

I AM pleased to read that Dave Hatchman (Yorkshire Post, August 2) has such well-trained dogs that he can take them anywhere, but that is not the case with a lot of dog owners, many of whom cannot keep them under control and who let them foul the pavements at will.

Personally speaking, I am in favour of such restrictions that the City of York are applying. I for one, would not like to have dogs in restaurants, cafs or any eating place, and I certainly would not want them in shops.

As regards parking charges, I agree they are excessive but he obviously has not been aware of the park and ride facility.

There seems to be a lot of satisfaction with the council's handling of things because York is getting four million visitors a year contributing 350m, and in a recent survey, 99 per cent were

highly satisfied with their visit to the city.

So, Mr Hatchman, with all due respect, I suggest you return once more to sample the York and Yorkshire hospitality, but leave your dogs at home.

High price

From: MJ Thompson, Goodison Boulevard, Cantley, Doncaster.

ON the subject of car parking costs in the city of York (Yorkshire Post, August 2) I would like to say that I agree that they are obscenely high.

My wife and I decided to go and see a performance of the stage play Brassed Off two years ago and the cost to park my car was more

than the cost of the theatre tickets.

A most enjoyable evening was marred by the over the top charge to park our car.

When we have since considered going to the York theatre again, we have ruled it out on parking costs.

We must not forget the key role of our museums

From: G Hall, Bingley, West Yorkshire.

I READ with interest the article written by Colin Philpott (Yorkshire Post, July 29). Indeed, museums are often forgotten about as being important attractions for locals and tourists alike and, as Colin remarks, they considerably assist in helping to boost the local economy.

Yorkshire people should be proud of that fact alone and consider themselves extremely fortunate in having such an array of museums within the county boundary – let alone the five national museums mentioned in Colin's article.

Their collective importance on so many levels cannot be emphasised enough, from the preservation of artefacts to education, research and caretakers of our heritage.

Perhaps I am biased with being a fanatical local historian and a regular volunteer at one of the finest museums of its type in the country, Bradford Industrial Museum.

Yes, museums are suffering badly from under-funding and the situation will undoubtedly deteriorate further in the present economic climate.

However, let's not get too despondent as I hope what Colin Philpott had to say will spur more people into visiting at least some of the many museum attractions we have around us. There is an old saying: "Forget history and you have no future".