Sir – I read with dismay of another fatal road accident due to a badly sited electricity pole (Report, November 19).

Sadly, such accidents are not unusual. Some 150 people annually in the UK are killed when they collide with electricity or telecommunication poles.

A recent European Directive EN 12767 requires all new road signs erected in the UK to be “frangible”, that is, collapsible on impact. Regretably, this legislation has not been extended to telephone and electricity poles. These timber poles are unforgiving obstructions and are often placed far too close to the carriageway edge.

It is not uncommon for drivers to momentarily lose control of their vehicle, maybe avoiding a reckless manoeuvre by another driver, or swerving to miss hitting an animal. Sometimes it’s just because they have misjudged a bend in the road. If the unfortunate driver hits one of these poles the consequences are, at best serious, and frequently fatal. Too often the electricity and telecommunications companies install overhead lines because it’s cheaper than placing cables underground. They seem not to consider the risks to life and limb or the road-user.

As part of a national road safety campaign called “The Passive Revolution” (see www.thepassiverevolution.com) I was, last March, given access to the county council’s regular meeting with the electricity and telecommunication companies and I put it to them that they should not wait for the law to force them to act, but should carry out a proper risk assessment every time a pole is planned near a public road and that wherever possible, services should be placed underground for safety. Despite several letters reminding them of their obligations they have signally failed to respond.

Perhaps the county Coroner will have more success than I in pressing this important issue to a conclusion.

Colin Carritt, Woodstock