Letter: Price of cars

Sir: So the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders is planning to tell us of the lifestyle freedom that the car provides ("Car firms plot PR onslaught on Labour", 20 August). The car is wonderfully convenient and liberating. But at whose inconvenience and imprisonment?

Perhaps the SMMT will explain to us the "lifestyle freedom" benefits to the nation of the over 4,000 deaths and over 100,000 seriously injured each year? And explain the liberation of our towns, villages and communities where 90 per cent of children are not allowed to walk to school because of the dangers of traffic, and the elderly dare not attempt to cross the street. If the car disappeared overnight we would all miss it, but what a sense of freedom and relief it would bring.

CHARLES HARVEY

Petersfield,

Hampshire