With reference to Andrew Martin’s letter (Your Say, November 3, ‘Taking Licences off Speeders’) while I wholly agree with his sentiments on speeding, I do think we have to give credit where credit is due here and look at the facts.

The reality is that road deaths have halved in the last 12 years, from around 3,500 per year to 1,700.

This in itself is significantly lower than the figures in the last century.

Every fatality is an appalling tragedy, but clearly a combination of a number of factors involving the police, the government, the NHS, the motoring institutions, road builders and yes, fancy advertising have combined to make our road far safer than they have ever been.

It is just not correct to say ‘still the death toll rises every year’ – it has actually fallen quite considerably.

My view is that we all have a responsibility to drive more carefully, observe speed limits etc – but that actions taken by the authorities over the year (eg speed cameras, road humps, lower speed limit is, safety belts etc) have made an enormous difference – and long may this continue.

And if, as Andrew suggests, on the spot fines and confiscation of driving licences works, then I’m all for it. But let’s not criticise the police for the failings that are just not supported by facts.

Noel Stubbs, St Annes Road, Weymouth