SIR - Councillor Roger Taylor suggests (T&A, January 2) that because 95 per cent of road accidents have causes other than inappropriate speed, the authorities should stop using roadside cameras to harass innocent motorists and concentrate their efforts on catching the dangerous minority.

If the 19th century limit of four mph was still in force, his opinion might make sense because although it would take a week to drive to London, most accidents would be avoided. But speeds have risen and the chances of avoiding an accident have fallen in proportion.

The idea that driver competence is significant is also a myth simply because there is only a small window' between the speed which allows time to take avoiding action and the speed at which an accident becomes inevitable.

Coun Taylor must know that the hated yellow cash machines' are not placed at random to upset his constituents or to make money.

They are a response to a record of serious accidents and where it is hoped that stricter controls on the speed of road users will prevent similar incidents in future.

To pretend otherwise is either hypocritical or misguided particularly when the opinion comes from one of our elected representatives.

Brian Holmans, Langley Road, Bingley