Sir – I graduated with a teaching qualification in 1971 from a college affiliated to the University of Oxford. My little car took me from college to lodgings to lectures in South Parks Road. Petrol cost 3s and 8p per gallon and we had an oil crisis.

Like everyone else, I received some petrol coupons, which in the event were never implemented. Several national newspapers made it anti-social to drive at more than 50mph even on the M4. If all roads except motorways had a speed limit of 50mph with the margin for error of ten per cent, then anyone doing more than 55mph is clearly speeding. Two advantages flow from this. Everyone will use less fuel and save money.

The decrease in speed means that a few jobs would be created in the delivery sector because white van man would have to obey the rules or be driven off the UK roads.

Continental lorry drivers might respect our traffic laws even on motorways, where the speed limit could be raised without much increased risk. Since fairly minor incidents on motorways can lead to fatalities, statistically this might not increase proportionately, as we who need to use the country roads will be much safer as a consequence.

Granted the logic is counter intuitive but why not canvass some support for the ideas I have raised.

Paul B. Godwin, Adderbury