Speed is more than a matter of going fast

JAYNE Dowle’s column against the raising of the motorway speed limit may be strong on personal experiences but she really does not make a valid case against the new proposals (Yorkshire Post, October 3).

All the hazards she describes, such as tailgaters and struggling old bangers, are just as much there now as they might be under a raised speed limit.

The current 70mph limit was introduced on December 22, 1965, in response to a spate of accidents and deaths in dense fog on the motorways – flawed logic of course when a safe speed in the prevailing conditions was probably less than 20mph. Most cars then were more basic and low-powered.

In contrast, most modern cars are capable of speeds in excess of 100mph with commensurate safety features, and yet we still have this outdated speed limit and the result is that a substantial number of drivers regularly travel above the speed limit in a completely safe manner.

The proposed limit of 80mph merely seeks to legalise current common practice, bearing in mind that a law which is commonly flouted is a bad law.

Evidence from Australia, back in 2009, showed that, when speed limits were introduced on previously derestricted roads in the Northern Territory, deaths went up by 70 per cent although traffic levels had dropped.

This is hardly surprising when you consider that the primary cause of accidents has been shown to be inattention, a state which can soon develop at a steady and boring 70mph in a modern car.

To turn to the issue of fuel consumption and pollution, many modern highly-geared diesel vehicles are more efficient at higher speeds, and no-one is forcing the driver of an older and slower vehicle to achieve 80mph, and that driver can still maintain a slower satisfactory speed, quite safely, with correct lane discipline. The raising of the motorway speed limit to a realistic level is long overdue.

From: Coun Dave Merrett, Cabinet Member for City Strategy, City of York Council.

I’M pleased to see that the Government is responding on the 20mph agenda, which is a policy City of York Council is committed to developing city-wide.

Introducing 20mph speed limits in residential areas will improve our living environments.

We would urge the Government to reduce regulations to help this approach, reduce costs and minimise street clutter.

From: Dennis Whitaker, Baildon, Shipley.

So it is proposed to increase the motorway speed limit to 80mph? How very sensible! Thousands of British motorists have shown over past years, that cars driven with care and consideration by drivers observing the road ahead can safely be driven at 80mph.

I am aware of Jayne Dowle’s opinion (Yorkshire Post, October 4) but not once does she refer to care, consideration or common sense. True, speed kills but so does 30mph in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Medical aspirations

From: Andrew Gentles, Hollins Crescent, Harrogate.

YOUR correspondent Mrs V Double, a qualified nurse of considerable experience, has highlighted a root cause of many of the problems that patients may experience as a result of nurses wanting to be “mini-doctors” and so failing to carry out basic nursing care (Yorkshire Post, September 30).

Sadly, this has been confirmed by my own experience, partly as a former consultant, and following retirement, when I have been twice an in-patient and several times an out-patient. I have also learned from friends, some of whom were in their final illnesses, their relatives, and from former patients whom I visited.

Among the above were nursing sisters in major teaching hospitals.

It seems to have started when the nursing powers that be wished to raise the “status” of nurses. No common place tasks like feeding patients, for example.

A few years ago, a very senior member of the Royal College of Nursing wrote that nurses were “no longer the subset of doctors”. I assume she meant “subservient”. My dictionary defines “subset” as a mathematical term.

This seemed to miss the point that doctors and nurses form a team, trained to do essential but different work.

It takes a good deal longer to become a registered doctor, and that is only the beginning: the Art is long, but life is short. I doubt if cabin crew in an airliner do spells at the controls, but both are essential for the plane’s purpose.

Before someone writes to say that they have just been in hospital and they have nothing but praise for the nurses, indeed this happily is so.

The evidence, nonetheless, shows that standards have fallen in places. Mrs Double points one clear way forward. More like her are needed.

Recovering lost channels

From: John Askew, Regional Manager for Yorkshire, Digital UK.

I’M sorry to hear Martin Phillips is having difficulty retuning his Freeview box (Yorkshire Post, September 30). While it’s always difficult to diagnose individual reception problems from a distance, there are a few common issues that may result in a loss of channels.

Firstly, it is important to carry out a “full” retune of Freeview equipment after switchover.

This ensures old information is erased and allows TVs and boxes to pick up the new, high-power service.

Selecting a standard “auto tune” may not work. Misaligned or damaged aerials and loose cabling can also affect reception.

In rare cases, some older products are not compatible with the stronger signal.

Digital UK recommends looking for the “digital tick” when buying equipment, which identifies products designed to work through switchover. Anyone with questions on retuning or switchover can also the Digital UK advice line on 08456 505050 or visit digitaluk.co.uk.