I would find it a lot easier to tolerate a system where peoples livelihoods could potentially be jeopardised by infringing laws designed at a time before anti-lock brakes if they would issue the same draconian penalties for those who sat in the middle and outside lanes on motorways.

Alasdair MacDonald, Southampton, Hampshire

We, as motorists, are expected to behave responsibly and with due consideration for other road users and the law. It is a pity that "the authorities" dont follow those expectation as well. How many "emergency" roadworks have been instigated by unqualified and uncaring contractors with inapropriately placed cones and signs which in themselves are more of a hazard to one and all than the actual work. How many major holdups are caused by police who seem to have a "how much chaos can we cause here" attitude. Its happened too often to be imagination. There should always be a keep the traffic moving ethos,if there is a vehicle to be recovered from the embankment leave it untill 2am not 4pm. If there is a serious crash but minimal debris, take photos and statements dont shut the motorway for half a day. In many continental countries they pride themselves on their response and to keeping closures to a minimum. As usual the Brits get a very expensive rough deal.

mike gee, bournemouth, dorset

Why don't manufacturers install a limiter similar to the one used in F1 to regulate speed in the pit lane? That way the choice of adhering to the limit would clearly be the driver's, there would be no dangerous speedometer watching, and guilt would be automatic if caught without the limiter engaged. Shouldn't be too difficult or controversial I'd have thought and we have cruise control in many cars as it is...

Chris, Barcelona, Spain

It is about time they configured a camera to photograph tailgaters. It doesn't matter how fast you are travelling, if you leave enough room, you can take action in time and avoid a pileup. As a big-bike commuter, I see over 90% of the rush hour traffic on motorways exceeding the speed limit, most of the time perfectly safely. The problems arise when an incident occurs and people heven't left enough room to brake.
Yes, if you travel faster, any impacts will be harder, but tail gating is more dangerous than speed alone. Fact!

Mike P, Kent, UK

Why is everybody so obsessed with speed cameras? If everyone respected the Law, there would be no need for speed cameras. Obeserving speed limits is respecting other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
It is stupidity to say I am a good driver. No one is a good driver : everybody makes mistake, everyone's attention lapses sometimes. On the road danger is everywhere because you cannot control all the elements involved (weather, road conditions, kids, animals, other drivers). Being aware of all these might make you think about your actions whilst driving. Well I hope anyway, because I would not like to be killed or lose limbs because of a "I want to do anything I want on the road" driver.

Pierre Fornage, Reading, UK

i am trying to find out where to get the bumper stickers does any one know ?

john anthony keogh, runcorn, uk

I don't know how it can be considered sound practice by polic forces to set up radar traps operated by two Constables between 3 and 4 p.m. on a quiet stretch of non-built up road, and while booking one motorist have to let through others who are going at a comparable speed. Surely if one is be fined £60 + 3 points on licence then all those drivers who used that road, driving above the speed limit should not go 'scot free'. Are stickers as shown within your feature available to purchase?

Christine Riley, Edinburgh, Mid Lothian

"Persecution of the motorist." Another item for your "Reasons to Emigrate" list. Seriously guys, how much of a not so gentle hint do you need to get your risk-adverse ass in gear and seeking your fortune in the Colonies?

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Japan

As an everyday cyclist and occasional motorist I always drive at the urban speed required locally, be it 20, 30, or 40 mph. I call it "cyclists' revenge", because it is obvious everywhere I drive in town that I cause tailbacks of impatient 'want-to-speed' drivers behind me. And they frequently overtake dangerously, even in 20 mph zones, just to get round my law-abiding speed.
I agree that speed cameras on motorways are daft. Take them off motorways and put them in the 20 mph urban areas where pedestrians, children and cyclists need all the protection they can get.

Moira Macdonald, Exeter,

northamptonshire road deaths doubled last year, so much for "safety cameras". they are there purely to extract cash from motorists and have nothing to do with road safety. The standard of driving is appalling, this is what needs to be tackled.

Rodney Jones, kettering, England

Cameras in 30 limit areas with real hazards i.e. near to schools and in resendential areas - no problem.

But the constant "speed kills" message on motorways in modern cars is just about as nutty (trendy) as the CO2 environmental debate - i.e. no science.

Motorways are proven to be the safest roads and my experience is that 50%+ of the traffic where conditions allow travel at 80 to 90 mph perfectly safely.

Mark, Manchester, UK

My main issue with a lot of these cases is that nobody is given a trial and thus allowed to put their view forward fairly. Sure you can ignore the fine and present your case in the magistrates, but you risk having court costs imposed on you, recently somebody had to pay £500 for disputing their fine. When compared to accepting the £60 fine I decided not to risk it and paid up. There should be a fair system where a police officer isn't in effect: judge, jury and executioner.

Also what is up with the points staying on your licence for 3 years but you can only remove them after 4? It doesn't make any sense.

Alan, Eastbourne,

The reality is that thousands ( roughly 30+% I'd guess) of drivers exceed the 70 limit on motorways. Speed, whilst an important factor is never the only contributor to accidents and whilst governments take the grossly irresponsible cop-out of the sledge-hammer 70 limit, drivers will ignore it, bad drivers and bad driving will continue to cause death on our roads and the police and privately owned camera companies will profit. I believe we should fit an airplane-like, sat-linked black box and forward facing cameras to every car (we have the technology). Coupled to advisory speed limits, they would allow every accident to be analysed and those whose driving was less than competent in the circumstances could be held accountable. Drive as you see fit but be prepared to accept the consequences of your actions. Probably too un-nannystate for this pathetic government which seeks to hide behind meaningless statistics and empty rhetoric and sadly too grown-up for many of our road users.

paul martin, Wargrave,

I used to dream about someday bringing a nice classic American convertible to Europe to drive around for a few months.
But I fear that if I bring it to England, one of my favorite countries, it will be vandalised due to the current hatred of anything American and anything that consumes fuel at a rate greater than a Honda Fit (or Jazz as it's called there), or that I will gather so many speeding fines that they'll throw me in jail forever.
What is happening to that country? Cameras EVERYWHERE, gasoline at 8$ per gallon, congestion charges, it goes on and on and on!
There are so many things wrong with us in America, but so far driving around seems to be the one thing we have some freedom in.

Gus, Los Angeles, USA / CA

Maybe your readers should look up on the web or motorcyclenews for advice, somethink to do with not being cautioned at the time of the offence.

Steve Patrick, coventry,

I always observe speed limits nowadays - and I must say it causes lots of annoyance to other drivers who often tailgate me at 30mph through towns, sometimes tooting their horns and flashing lights at me. They often take risks overtaking me on blind bends or against oncoming traffic etc just to get past. Their choice thought. I have a clean licence but my 'safe' driving is likely to lead to an accident (for someone else) sooner or later as impatient drivers overtake in risky manouvers.

David, Nottingham,

Having recently received a fine and 3 points for doing 35 (camera in a van) in a so called 30 zone on a industrial site in Northampton on a Saturday morning, I have to say that many speed cameras are there clearly to make money I do consider myself to be a safe driver I do make mistakes, but do not drive in a manner that would upset other road users when on motorways I have overtaken lorries at 70mph and been tailgated flashing lights all that kind of stuff by nutters in fast cars, to me this is more dangerous than 35 in a 30 on a empty industrial site on a Saturday morning so I conclude that you can get money from people like me but you wont catch the dangerous drivers as they use radar because they have the money, but what this government wont be getting from me again is my vote Mr Blair

Mike Daniels, Birmingham,

Parish or Community Councils to get ALL revenues from speed cameras in their own locale. When the Gov / Local Partnerships don't get a single penny raised and the communities blighted by speeding get all of it ring fenced to spend locally, then I will believe its not about money but safety as the current mantra mouths spout out!

Jack, Glasgow,

The problem with speed cameras is that they are as effective as a blunderbuss. They seldom reach the intended target and mostly strike at perfectly safe drivers going about their business as lawfully as they reasonably can. Speed cameras are mostly used to collect revenue and impose penalties on drivers who marginally exceed a speed limit where it was quite safe to do so. The penalties do not make them better drivers, it just makes them drive to minimise the risk of getting a speeding penalty, rather than driving to minimise the risk of an accident.

The effect of speeding fines and penalty points on normal drivers, who are concerned to drive as safely as they can, is just to force a wedge of resentment between the them and the police. Drivers come to see the police as only wanting to penalise them at every opportunity, rather than helping them to improve their driving. Drivers no longer believe the safety police messages and have come to see them as no more than false propaganda.

Geoff, Northamptonshire, Northampton,

If only our British police force could get out of their safe and cosy offices and catch really dangerous motorists we would not be in the present situation.

Speed cameras are a waste of time because all the bad drivers have devices that detect these cameras.

Our incompetent politicians have created an environment where motorists are likely to drive without licence, tax and insurance.

Alan Bond, Lancaster, England

Speed cameras were invented to make money. They have no connection with road safety in any way. They should be made illegal immediately and replace with radar-based speed warning signs as used by some police forces now.

Roger Tilbury, Worthing,