UNFORTUNATELY road deaths are reported with distressing frequency and the UK total for 2014 was 1,775.

However, to keep things in perspective it should be remembered that in the 1930’s the annual death toll was 7,000 plus, rising to over 8,000 in 1939. Bearing in mind the greater density of traffic these days it is difficult to account for the astonishing difference.

To some extent it can be explained by safer cars being built and more safety features on the roads but most of us would have expected there to have been far more deaths today than in the times when there were relatively few motor vehicles on the road.

Geoffrey Richards, Ashton Road, Hilperton