Congratulations to WA politicians of both parties for supporting a trial increase in freeways speed limits in some areas (The West Australian 7/9/98). Most Australian politicians wouldn't be so willing to put road safety before revenue.

Larry Graham is correct that the Road Safety Council Chairman Grant Dorrington's disagreement is ill-informed. The weight of research and experience indicates that increasing speed limits when they are too low results in less death not more deaths.

Mr Graham is also correct that a "speed kills" campaign in the Pilbara and Kimberely regions would be a waste of taxpayers' money. If Mr Dorrington is fair dinkum about improving safety in those areas he should do an anti-drunk driving campaign instead.

There is no reason to fear a 110+kph freeway speed limit. Countries with freeway speed limits above 110kph include the United Kingdom, Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland, Austria, France, Italy, Germany, and India. Other places with similar speed limits include many states in the US of A and our Northern Territory.

Michael Bates
president
National Motorists Association Australia.