ACCORDING to Cllr Alan Grant (Review, August 21), we would reduce the number of accidents on our roads by leaving the EU.

He states that “we see a disproportionate number of accidents involving foreign drivers.” Like many UKIP blanket statements, there is no statistical evidence quoted to support this.

If we looked at the number of accidents on continental roads, I would be surprised if we did not see a similar “disproportionate” number involving British drivers – even in countries that are not in the EU such as Switzerland.

I would also suggest that many foreign drivers would probably be able to read English road signs; English being a commonly-spoken language on the continent.

I would be surprised if the same were true of many British drivers trying to read signs when they are abroad.

I am also intrigued with the idea that leaving the EU would solve this.

I understood that, according to UKIP, we would negotiate trade agreements with the EU if we were to leave.

If these negotiations were successful, how would this reduce the number of foreign lorries on our roads?

Surely successful agreements would mean that the amount of trade between us and our former EU partners would continue.

If they were to be reduced, this would be detrimental to our economy.

In addition to this, I cannot see how our memberships of the EU affects the number of foreign leisure drivers on our roads.

Is Cllr Grant assuming that, if we were to leave the EU, Britain would no longer be a tourist attraction?

If this were true, then leaving the EU will be a disaster for the British tourist industry. Fortunately, as evidence of tourism to this country before we joined ‘Europe’ shows, Britain has always been a very popular destination for foreign visitors.

As seems to be common among UKIP supporters, Cllr Grant’s letter is yet another example of trying to link our membership of the EU to any aspect of British life that causes concern.

– Nigel Wright, Soudley.