All I ever hear these days is slow down, speed kills, when speed is not the problem, it is nothing more than the standard of driving and ability to drive as a responsible citizen.

In place of the do-gooders that live in Altrincham and want this ludicrous speed limit imposed thinking it’s speed that’s the concern, I want them to do a very simple census on their own roads.

What they need to record is how many times the following happens:

Not using indicators - how lazy can you get! Indicators let everyone know even the people you can’t see in all your mirrors or out of all your windows that you intend to drive in a particular direction.

This simple act actually improves traffic flow too so has many uses, all for the sake of using an indicator stalk whilst you’re sat down!

Driving with little control on the wheel - by that I am referring to the ‘one-handed at 12 o'clock on the wheel brigade’ who when faced with an emergency manoeuvre their cars to swerve violently or have so little control that they actually cause an accident.

Mobile phone holders - Often seen in Altrincham in prestigious cars that have hands-free, however, that’s not good enough for them, they like to be seen driving one handed and with mobile phone to the ear on the drivers’ side only so everyone else can see they are important and on the phone.

Inside of the wheel grabbers to turn - Now who taught this one; that you should rotate your wrist and grab the steering wheel from the inside and pull down to get round a bend. How dangerous is that when faced with an unforeseen object or person causing you to make an emergency manoeuvre.

Without driving in a safe controlled manner in the first place it doesn't matter what speed your doing.

Defensive driving is the answer, second guessing what others are going to do, do all of these things and you can drive extremely safely at 30 mph; 20 mph has no impact whatsoever, without the above points being rectified first.

Try emergency braking from 30 mph and see how little road distance that takes, then try emergency braking on a private closed road with one hand on the wheel and the other clasped round your mobile at the side of your head.

You'll all agree with me in the end, speed does not kill, careless driving does!

Phil Collier

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