PLEASE allow me to let Keith Williams "in on the joke" of the traffic calming measures being carried on the A449 between Kidderm-inster and Worcester (Letters, August 2).

I agree, there may be some inconvenience for those that live locally in having the gaps in the central reservation closed, and the coloured tarmac is not a pretty sight wherever it is. The red paint markings on the A449 between Kidderminster and Worcester.

However, I would rather see the road painted red than it be red with the blood of our loved ones - which brings me to the "joke". If penalties for exceeding the speed limit were raised high enough to really hurt the pockets of drivers, such measures might not be necessary. Something has to be done to stop the carnage on our roads.

Mr Williams should dwell on the fact that every day 10 people are killed on Britain's roads and the annual cost of injury amounts to almost half of the total NHS budget.

If some red paint and a little inconvenience can help to prevent road crashes, surely it is worth it?

RoadPeace, the national charity for road victims has, for the last three years, declared August as National Road Victim Month.

For further information and the helpline please telephone 020 8964 1021, which also can give details of the Kidderminster and District local group of RoadPeace and their monthly meetings.

Finally Mr Williams, I wish I could explain to you what it is like to have the police arrive on your doorstep to say that they believe it is your daughter who has not only been killed, but is unrecognisable because of the fire that ensued after her car was hit and squashed by a speeding "experienced" driver on a lovely stretch of country road with no road markings and a speed restriction of 60mph.

That is the joke you ask to be let in on.

ROSEMARY DALLEY

The Greenway

Bliss Gate