25 SEPTEMBER 1964, Page 13

MEGATONS ON THE MOTORWAY

SIR,—As a schoolmaster, may 1 say that the 30 m.p.h. limit imposed in 1934, the year when there were more fatal road accidents than ever before, or, 1 believe, since, has been responsible for saving many thousands of lives, especially children's lives. The very great drop in the number of deaths in 1935 and subsequent years is proof enough of this.

Young children trying to cross a busy road can- not, I think, work out a speed/distance calculation, as they must when traffic is moving at greatly vary- ing rates: they can only learn that, when the road is clear for such and such a distance, it is•safe for them to cross, and this means that traffic must move at a certain steady rate.

Say, if you like, that cars' brakes are better now and increase the limit to 40 m.p.h., but motorists must observe it. the police enforce it and the motor- ing organisations wholeheartedly support it.