Police speed vans are lurking everywhere on Yorkshire’s roads

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with your contributor Janet Berry (The Yorkshire Post, April 14) with the obsession the police have with motor offences, and particularly the wretched speed camera vans lurking in the shadows everywhere we travel.

In the light of the fact that 70 per cent of road accidents apparently occur in suburbia, why the necessity to be constantly present on lightly used rural roads?

Here in Upper Wharfedale, we have witnessed unmarked police cars stopping motorists. Normally the police presence is minimal but suddenly, with their increased powers, their presence has escalated to a level usually associated with bicycle races passing through.

Let’s hope that their presence remains as prevalent once this crisis is over. I won’t be holding my breath.

From: John G Davies, Alma Terrace, East Morton, Keighley.

IN answer to Janet Berry’s question, I live close to the flashing 20mph sign at the entry to the village, down a steep hill.

There appears to be three groups of drivers; those who slow down as they enter the zone, the second group appear to be on autopilot, clearly miles away, and the final lot deliberately ignore the sign. When I point to the sign, they indicate that I should go forth and multiply.

Both latter groups are dangerous for different reasons. The last set may do some serious damage to someone or something, whilst the second’s lack of awareness can bring its own problems.

From: Beryl Phillipson, Burn, Selby.

YES, we do need speed cameras. The A19 is closed from Selby bypass to Haddlesey, due to the road collapsing with the floods. However some cars and motorcycles are racing on it like a race track, they are ignoring speed limits.

From: ME Wright, Harrogate.

With the exception of motorways, aren’t roads for the use of people and vehicles? Pedestrian, as an adjective, means dreary or dull. This seems to mirror the attitude of certain “get out of my way” drivers; hence the howls of outrage at any suggestion of properly enforced speed limits.

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James Mitchinson

Editor