Bob Hounslow has written a reader's letter condemning the introduction of more 20mph zones, claiming the policy increases pollution.

Do the anti-motorist lobby pushing for 20mph speed limits everywhere realise that by doing so they are increasing the time cars have the opportunity of polluting our streets by 50 per cent?

Think about it, a car travelling at 30mph will obviously take 60 minutes to do 30 miles.

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Oxford Mail: A cyclist rides towards a 20mph sign Photo: Tejvan Pettinger However a car doing that same journey at 20mph will take 90 minutes to do that same journey, surely an increase of 50 per cent.

Therefore if we want to reduce pollution of our streets, we should be encouraging cars to go faster, not slower.

I would suggest a speed limit of 40mph would be appropriate.

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After all, that is the speed an irate driver will  be doing when he overtakes this doddery old fool, trying to do his civic duty, by travelling down the middle of the road at only 20 miles an hour!

Bob Hounslow

Brize Norton

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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