SIR — Two correspondents referred last week to "dangerous" local roads. There is no such thing as a dangerous road. Regrettably there is no shortage of dangerous drivers.
Statistics show that countries with excellent roads nonetheless have high accident rates.
Likewise it has been reported that speed cameras alone logged over one million offences in the UK last year, indicating the widespread disregard motorists have for the law and safety.
It is not roads that cause accidents - it is human carelessness, lack of ability and disregard for the law that causes accidents.
It behoves us all to use the roads more responsibly, my self included.
Having said that, there are certainly some measures that can be taken to make life safer and better for road users.
Mr Walker cited the road between Washford and Tropiquaria. A foot and cycle path would be a boon to many users of that stretch of road; but to straighten it, as he proposes, would merely speed westbound traffic to the bottleneck in Washford, and eastbound traffic to the junction (roundabout or not) at Washford Cross.
His proposal solves no problems, merely relocates them.
Longer term, what is really needed is a new road which would bring relief to a whole string of communities from Williton to Carhampton and benefit residents as well as motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
Piecemeal improvements to the existing road would only delay the longer term objective.
Meanwhile, small schemes to make cycling and walking safer, ie to take the most vulnerable users off the road, should be encouraged as a far better way to spend limited resources.
J A S Dixon,
Periton Road,