Statistics show the real danger on the roads

NEIL McArthur writes (Letters, March 21), to suggest that people cycling should obtain an annual MOT test, alongside various other measures which Parliament has sensibly rejected time and time again.

Putting responsibility on a fiveyear old to obtain an MOT for their tricycle is not in any way a proportionate response to protect themselves from the levels of speeding, unsafe overtaking, drunk driving, amber gambling and careless lane behaviour witnessed on the roads.

I haven’t yet seen the Cambridge motorists’ group (CRG), whom Neil is a lobbyist for, fund road safety measures to crack down on those problems yet either, so his letter seems oddly one-sided.

Road safety is everyone’s responsibility, but it has to be in proportion to the danger presented by the weight/speed of vehicle, as is common sense.

Government data at www.tinyurl. com/collisions-fault shows where the problem really lies.

It shows that a driver caused a fatal collision in 977 cases across the whole of the UK in 2022, versus the rare cases of two caused by people cycling. This is hardly unexpected, given that a bicycle is a lightweight vehicle being used at a slower speed.

Every single one of these cases is a tragedy, but to suggest bicycles and tricycles should have excessive regulation ignores the real source of danger.

Government doing to make methane capture from slurry common practice?

He says that environmental policy is complex. Yes, but it’s far too important to have that complexity exploited for political gain. We need policies that actually make a difference but what we are getting is false reassurance.