Letter: Deadly drivers

Sir: Isn't it likely that a car that protects its occupants in a crash inflicts greater damage to other vehicles it collides with, and thus their occupants ("Tests show that even `safe' cars can kill", 2 July)? This is apart from injury to any pedestrians hit.

There is evidence that drivers who perceive themselves to be protected within their car are less safety conscious in the way they drive, thus transferring the danger to others. The rational way to build safety into car design would be to ensure that the person most at risk in an accident is the driver.

CHRISTOPHER PADLEY

Market Rasen, Lincolnshire