In 2006-07 more than 500 motorcyclists died in accidents and a further 700 suffered serious injury.

In order to improve safety, particularly for younger motorcyclists, compulsory basic training was introduced as far back as 1990 “to help reduce the very high accident rate among inexperienced motorcyclists”.

In line with this policy, 50cc mopeds, built and marketed particularly for young motorcyclists, have a built-in restrictor to limit top speed to 31 mph.

However, most regrettably, some young riders have taken to “derestricting” their peds – removing the limiting mechanism – so that they can then go substantially faster – as fast as, they claim, 50mph.

Not only is this clearly a dangerous practice which creates very loud exhaust noise, but what strikes me as deplorable is that at least some motorbike dealers are happy to do the derestricting.

When this is done the ped is in fact no longer a moped – it is a motorbike.

For those with only a moped licence, their licence, insurance and warrantee will become invalid.

And worse, when they come to hit their brakes at 50mph, they will find to their horror that their braking power no longer matches the unrestricted speed.

Jeff Williams, Jubilee Road, Branksome