last year.

At 73 and with a clean driving licence for 43 years or so, I was caught on April 15, 2012, on the eastern bypass, near the Shotover Bridge.

There was no traffic at that time on the Sunday morning and being a bit preoccupied, following the death of my husband, just as I realised that my speed had crept up to 60 in a 50mph limit, I saw a police car in the lay-by.

The speed awareness course I attended as a result had been booked by Drive Tec (otherwise the AA) for June 5, 2012.

Twenty-six people had been booked in – £95 a head, a nice little earner for the AA, and Thames Valley Police, who I understand were to go halves with the AA. Seven people failed to turn up and, as I understand, they would have to re-apply and pay again.

Most of the group were respectable, mature adults who had mainly been driving at 30-36 in a 30mph limit.

I was by far the worst menace on the road.

The instructor asked if anyone in the group tailgated.

Two young fellows put their hands up. When asked why the reply was “To make the driver in front of me go faster.”

The instructor then said: “If anyone is tailgating you and you stick to the speed limit, you are also helping them to stick to the speed limit.”

I take no notice of drivers who tailgate me and people tell me that they put their hazard lights on if they are being tailgated.

Following the course, I was left feeling that this was extortion, no sliding scale for degrees of rates of speeding. And I find it galling when I see all the miscreant drivers, speeding, undertaking, and on mobile phones with nary a policeman in sight.

PAT ROSS, Bowness Avenue, Headington