THE recent so-called road rage incident reported illustrates generally and specifically, the abject state of so much relating to ‘social’ affairs, and as a road incident this was far from being an isolated occurrence.

Thousands of drivers are on the roads with licences which should never have been issued, because of the background susceptibility to psychological instability with which so many are afflicted.

The ‘void’ in a one-off driving test which unconditionally ‘clears’ the subject of a test pass, nominally at least, until 70 years of age.

Be it attitude, aptitude, personality, upbringing or social-whatever, too many of these drivers’ intellectual deficiency, under the slightest ‘provocation’ (or none at all) instantaneously flashes from background/ borderline to quasi insanity, and abusing pedestrians, cyclists and other drivers, alike.

Fifty years ago as Minister of Transport, Ernest Marples mooted introducing restrictions on ownership, as he was worried that it would very rapidly have got ‘out of hand’.

Unfortunately, he didn’t, and it has – long ago.

Paddy Keenan, Ward Close, Andover.