It's time to increase speed limit

There seem to be a lot of letters lately about speed limits. I passed my driving test in 1967 and my first car was a 1959 Ford Anglia, which was fitted with drum brakes and crossply tyres (very dangerous things). That's basically the full list of safety equipment. Seat belts were an optional extra.

At a push the poor old dear would wheeze along at about 65mph as long as there was a following wind. The maximum speed limit was 70mph.

Today I am fortunate enough to drive a modern Mercedes. It is fitted with disc brakes, ABS, emergency brake assist, traction control, radial tyres, loads of airbags, pre-tensioning seat belts, rain sensing wipers, xenon headlights and a whole load of other safety equipment.

The maximum speed limit is still 70mph. Can someone tell me why?

Of course I understand the need for speed limits in built up areas but surely it is time that motorways were given special consideration.

With the modern safety equipment on today's cars a motorway speed limit of 90mph, or even 100mph, would make more sense.

Speed kills? Maybe, but so does frustration at the ridiculously low speeds our modern cars are expected to keep to.

Phil Christie, Telford