We should go back to the 60s on road safety

Midway through 1967, having saved up from two Saturday jobs, I purchased for the sum of £10 an NSU Quickly.

This was basically a bicycle fitted with a two stroke 49cc engine which, if you peddled very hard, could attain a top speed of 25mph.

During the rest of the year I completely stripped it down and refurbished it, including the little engine and rebuilt it to safety standards.

In January 1968, my father took it for its MOT test which was mandatory before it could be used on the road on my 16th birthday in February.

There were further requirements, I had to hold a provisional driving licence, vehicle tax and insurance all regularly checked by the police. Failure to comply with the requirements meant facing a penalty.

I thought that this little machine would enable me to hone my road skills before progressing to much larger motorcycles and then cars.

How different from today. It would appear that anyone can purchase an electric bike or scooter and fly around the streets. pavements and pedestrianised zones with complete impunity, thus reducing the safety of all others.

Perhaps it may be an idea to follow the legislation of the 60s but I fear this will be too late for the hordes to hit the public spaces on their newly attained Christmas presents.

David C. Savory