Sir - Your report (December 14) of the A34 accident last year in which a family of four were killed when a HGV driver fell asleep made distressing reading.

Although the police prosecution was based purely on the evidence pointing to the driver's sleeping of which it was concluded he must have had some warning, there was another aspect of this case to which I would like to draw attention. The driver had said in interview that he would have been driving at a distance of about 30 feet from the vehicle in front at his speed of 40 to 50 mph (43mph at impact). He considered this a safe distance at that speed and implied that this would be his habitual norm. The Highway Code suggests a minimum safe distance of two seconds (the two-second rule!) equalling one yard for every mile per hour, which therefore means 130 feet at 43mph - more than four times his distance. Several other HGV drivers in evidence regarded him as a good, steady and safe driver suggesting that they also would be likely to drive at a similar distance.

It is fairly commonplace to see HGVs following at 30 feet or less and for most of the time they get away with it because their elevated position allows them to see further ahead and because they are usually alert. However, they still cannot see beyond another HGV in front of them and any lapse in vigilance or distraction gives rise to serious potential danger. Such a following distance could, in itself, be construed as on the borderline of dangerous driving.

Authorities obsession with 'speed kills' seems only to make drivers forget that other aspects of driving represent a very real danger.

Chris Arnold , Wantage