Sir – In arguing against a speed limit of 40mph for a country road, your correspondent (Letters, January 7) presents his case entirely from a driver’s perspective.
A specific hazard sign may (but often may not) reduce speed at a specific spot, but any walkers, cyclists or riders elsewhere on the road would certainly prefer to be met or overtaken by slower vehicles throughout.
Country roads without verges are very dangerous places if vehicles are travelling too fast to be able to slow rapidly and safely on encountering unexpected but quite legitimate obstacles — such as walkers, bicycles and horses.
Drivers cannot safely assume that round the next corner there is not someone insufficiently nimble and alert to jump out of the way. A slightly longer journey time for motorists seems a small price to make country lanes safer for all to enjoy.
Corinne Grimley Evans, Oxford
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