I READ with amazement Kris Hall's sanctimonious and patronising piece about speeding on Marlow Hill (Straight Talking, May 10).

As a grade six driving instructor of more than 20 years experience, and having not been caught speeding on Marlow Hill or anywhere else, I can give an accurate and unbiased view on this whole matter.

While I cannot argue with your high-handed reference to the Highway Code, you never-the-less seem determined not to lift your blinkers and see the situation as it is. The simple matter is that the powers that be often cannot organise a drinking party at a brewery where speed limits are concerned and the mobile speed people simply cash in on that.

Let me cite some examples: The bottom of Marlow Hill itself is a perfectly safe road to drive on even at 50mph, with only one road emerging onto it in both directions and hardly any houses. If you travel around the country, many places similar to Marlow Hill have sensible speed limits. Yet at the top of the hill, we have the entrance to a school on a 70mph stretch!

One of the most ludicrous examples of speed limit madness is at Frieth, where we have a narrow road with hardly any pavements. It has a blind bend and is a typical quaint country village. Except it isn't. It has a 60mph limit imposed on it! Yet, if you spent a day there with a speed camera, you would be lucky to find anyone going over 40mph. Why? Because people instinctively know what is a reasonable speed to drive at.

To finish off, I would like to comment on another stupid site for a speed trap.

It is the one often to be found at the end of Cressex Road where drivers are just beginning to slow down for the roundabout. Yet they ignore the really dangerous site just up the road near the school.

Why don't you talk about these inconsistencies inst-ead of that patronising nonsense in the paper?

Barry Smith, Address supplied