Sir, – Twice last week the local ITV news programme has shown footage of children from a junior school in Tow Law taking part in a Community Speed Watch event.

Backed by Durham's Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Hogg, the event's aim was to deliver a road safety message to drivers exceeding the speed limit.

This message was to be conveyed to the passing drivers by the children showing smiling or unsmiling face placards.

In order to be seen, the children were lined up at the roadside, a road which was obviously chosen because of speeding issues.

Do Mr Hogg and the school's head really think the risk to those children was worthwhile?

Inappropriate speed is a factor in many of the serious and fatal collisions that occur every day on our roads.

The only action taken against errant drivers uncovered by these schemes is that a letter of advice is sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle.

With the wholesale culling of dedicated road traffic departments, these schemes are on the increase nationwide as they allow police forces to say they have dealt with local complaints while at the same time appeasing the offending motorist.

TIMOTHY WOOD

Great Auk, Guisborough.