Madam,

In reply to chief fire officer Chris Davies (Top Gear tourist drivers blamed for rise in crashes). Does he have any evidence to support his opinion? Does he know for a fact that all speeding motorists in Wales are avid viewers of Top Gear?

I think he will find that Top Gear presenters only drive at high speed on proper race circuits or European roads where it is legal (Autobahn).

On public roads they are shown driving at the correct speed - especially since they are usually following a cameraman in a standard car. The BBC would not be allowed to air the show otherwise. Beside, it doesn’t matter what is on TV, people still have to make up their own minds on how to behave.

If anything on TV is to blame then it’s more likely to be the Fast and Furious film franchise and others like it, which does glorify illegal street racing and high-speed driving, but even they put “don’t try this at home” disclaimers on the films. Or maybe it’s the car manufacturers who are making much more powerful cars and there are far more distractions (mobile phones, music, etc).

When put into context, he is blaming the behaviour of a few people on a TV show watched by millions - the vast majority of whom drive normally.

I can assure him that it was not a tourist that overtook us on Friday night at 10pm at the most dangerous part of the A44.

Yours etc,

G Leech, Schooner Park, New Quay.

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