I AGREE with Ray Hurle's call for action following his recent car accident on Tavistock's Whitchurch Road (Times September 4). To my knowledge, many more collisions occur along the whole length of this busy road than are reported. The obvious solution, surely, is somehow to reduce the overall speed at which vehicles are driven in our town.

Surely, no responsible driver should ever proceed through built-up, densely populated areas faster than, say, 20mph. In fact I have read that in the USA, most drivers automatically reduce speeds to this sort of level while driving through housing areas. Unfortunately, if you attempt this currently in Tavistock, aggressive 'tailgating' is the result.

Recent changes in public attitude towards things like smoking, drink driving, using mobile phones when driving, dog fouling, fly tipping etc, show that the general population do respond, in time, to sensible social pressure, when coupled with reasonably enforcement. Why not a reduction of traffic speeds in our built-up areas?

Perhaps Tavistock should set a precedent in the South West and become the first town to abolish our current 30mph speed limit in favour of 20mph, as has already taken place in other parts of the country?

I know with current traffic volume it is usually impossible to even achieve 20mph on the town's main routes, but it could stop idiots accelerating dangerously one they spot a clear stretch of road ahead.

Might this not be a better avenue for our elected councillors to pursue instead of Rural Gateways and Sleeping Policemen?

C D Crofton

Down Park Drive

Tavistock

I READ with interest your article regarding the Priory Close accident and the urgent need for action and speed restrictions along the Whitchurch Road — an idea that I thoroughly endorse!

However, I should like to point out to everyone — including the Highways Agency — that the Whitchurch Road and its traffic problems do not end at the Whitchurch Post Office.

There are residents along the stretch of Whitchurch Road between the post office and the much-maligned 'rural gateway' (which incidentally has no pavement and a school the 'Montessori Group' in the chapel) who are forced to play 'Russian roulette' every time they pull out of their driveways or walk to the local shop or school or to catch the bus to Tavistock or Plymouth.

What needs to be provided along the road are clearly visible signs showing junctions and concealed driveways — a sign showing that pedestrians are likely to be walking along the road where there is no pavement, and real speed deterrents like cameras. 'Sleeping policemen' just shake everyone up and are a danger to buses and ambulances.

This campaign has gone on for a very long time now — I feel that someone will have to lose their life before anyone in authority does anything — or listens to us!

Mrs L Turner

244 Whitchurch Road

Tavistock

HOW very heartening it was to read Ann Keenan's letter in last week's Times! At last, someone other than me is prepared to put her head above the parapet and point out that Whitchurch Road is as safe as any other for drivers and pedestrians of normal intelligence and competence.

I have no doubt that you will be deluged with contributions from the timid, incompetent and the downright anti-motorist claque, pleading their pathetic case for deliberate obstructions, no doubt with a view to discouraging us from using Whitchurch Road so that it becomes increasingly like a private drive, maintained at public expense and everywhere else becomes even more congested.

So please allow me to provide some balance, get my retaliation in first, say 'well done' to Ms Keenan and encourage others of the silent majority to put their heads above the parapet, too. Otherwise, the danger is that the traffic engineers may be given an excuse to use up any small balance in their 'calming' budgets to counter a false 'perception' in Whitchurch with another trance of useless obstructions. Your readers may recall that the last time this happened, the resulting miscegenation was the ghastly Grenofen Gateway.

Roger W Mathew

Willowby, Down Road, Tavistock

A RECENT letter (September 11) on exiting Priory Close gave advice which may be fine for turning towards Whitchurch, but could be lethal for turning right towards Tavistock.

It is fine if everyone drives at, or below, the speed limit, but observation does not indicate this to be the usual behaviour.

Would it be too revolutionary to suggest placing a convex mirror opposite the exit to this and perhaps other such difficult exits onto the Whitchurch Road? I suggested this ten years ago to the traffic authorities locally, without success.

D J Stirland

92 Priory Close

Whitchurch