WITH reference to the article ?Determined bid to cut speeders? by Jane Honey (Times, June 26).

As a frequent car driver through Mary Tavy I have had many instances of cars, usually large, vans and small lorries, overtaking me in the speed restriction areas. Twice in one week I had to brake sharply because the driver overtaking me did not observe a vehicle coming in the opposite direction. Or if they did they were paying little heed to the potential risk. These two particular instances were not young drivers.

The remarks made by MPC Nigel Bishop that actual traffic speed differed from perceived speed is not giving credit to the fears villagers have. Yet this remark is frequently used wherever the problem of speeding motorists exists, and this is throughout Devon. Be it moorland, villages or towns.

Actual traffic speed is above that which is seen by visible police cameras and traffic control vehicles. Drivers brake sharply and slow to maximum requirement for only that immediate area. Once out of it, and this is for a few yards only, foot goes on accelerator and away they go as before with the same total disregard to the laws of the highway code, other road users and, this a very important issue, the inhabitants who live in these areas.

Anyone who lives beside a main road that is subjected to speed abuse will feel fear, anxiety and to some degree, anger. Anger against these perpetrators who are dictating the strength of these emotions.

There is countrywide clarification that something must be done. Practical solutions have been discussed and some have been put into place with minimal results. In many cases these practical solutions are inhibiting the villagers but not the speeding motorists.

More must be done to the offenders. It is not acceptable to say that accidents have to occur before action is taken. We have enough road fatalities due to bad driving to place that excuse in a ?no go? area.

D G Hewitt

Millbro Cottage

Tedburn St Mary

WE were extremely pleased to read in last week?s Times that efforts are being made to reduce speeding through Mary Tavy.

The introduction of the 30mph limit has made a big difference, as most cars do at least slow down, even if not quite to the limit. But there are still many vehicles that far exceed the limit, just as they previously far exceeded the 40mph limit. The main culprits are definitely lorries and motorbikes.

The comment that speed cameras cannot be installed without a history of serious accidents seems extraordinary. There can be no doubt that the road is dangerous, and could be considered an accident waiting to happen. Does someone have to die before action is taken?

Our house is right on the A386 and in the 15 years we have lived here the property has been struck by vehicles on several occasions. Apart from many incidents when our signs and walls have suffered some damage, we have had a motor cyclist who came off his bike and ended up in our drive, we had one vehicle that ran right into the side of the building causing a huge amount of damage to the structure of the building, and we had a car turned over in the road after hitting the wall. Luckily none of these people were seriously injured.

The road through Mary Tavy is straight and the temptation to speed is obvious, so a real incentive is needed. We?d certainly support the use of any means of slowing traffic and cameras do seem like the best idea.

Michael Cook and Alison Fife

The Stannary

Mary Tavy