Sir – I am afraid the correspondence in The Oxford Times regarding the 20mph speed limit is not adding any clarity to the situation.

The idea that reducing speed is the best answer to all accident related problems, as suggested by Richard Mann, is not based in fact. The Department for Transport publication ‘Reported Road Casualties Great Britain: 2008 – Annual Report’ states that only 14 per cent of accidents had a speed-related contributory factor reported, either exceeding the speed limit or travelling too fast for conditions.

Poor driving and young drivers are much more promising areas for the council to focus on. The sooner this entirely unjustified 20mph nonsense is removed from our roads the better.

Gerard van Dam, Eynsham