Pedestrians beware: drivers distracted by fine concerns

1:19pm Friday 23rd January 2004

Sir, Pedestrians beware! Having just lost a clean driving record of over 50 years to Kendal's "finest", for driving out of Kendal on the Milnthorpe Road over the permitted speed limit, the reason I say "Pedestrians beware", is that today, driving to Kendal, I was kept so busy watching my speedometer, looking for junction boxes and making sure I was not in one etc, I hardly noticed if some old lady wanted to cross the road.

My heinous offence was committed at 10.30am (no schoolchildren about) on Friday January 9 in good road conditions. My speed was recorded at 36 mph, for which I have contributed £60 and received in exchange three penalty points to adorn my previous clean licence.

Is this really expected to encourage road safety or should I just wish our finest a very Happy and Profitable New Year, as it smells of legal extortion.

Hopefully some of the money collected will be used to update our traffic signs make them clearer, show whether or not they mean mph or kph where possible site them above the road, not hidden by trees etc. We are expected to obey all these regulations all I ask is we are aided and assisted by the police and Highways Department.

Today I visited Kendal again. I added to the congestion and air pollution by keeping my 1600cc car at a maximum 29mph, driving in third gear most of the time to achieve this, thus burning more energy.

The drivers behind me had their "blood-pressures" raised, no doubt to dangerous levels, and I risked being a victim of "road-rage", being an easy target for the "unlicensed, uninsured, jobs" with no MOT in unroadworthy cars who appear to drive about the country with impunity fearing neither the police nor the courts.

Jim Smith Grange-over-Sands What do you think? Are motorists being hit by too many parking and speeding fines? Write to: Letters & Opinions, The Westmorland Gazette, 1 Wainwright's Yard, Kendal, Westmorland, LA9 4DP, or e-mail: letters@kendal.newsquest.co.uk to arrive no later than first post Wednesday. Names and full addresses must be given as a sign of good faith, although only a portion of the address will be used (eg John Smith, Kendal).

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