Sent to "Lichfield Post" Aug 98.
										23-8-98


	Dear Sir,

			So, the anti-Highways Department at Staffordshire County Council are going ahead with their plans to impose an unnecessary 20mph speed limit, and clutter Lichfield with so-called "traffic calming" in the form of road humps.

	This is supposedly being done in the name of "safety". Will they make the roads safer? Well, the Council's record on making the roads safer is dubious to say the least. Chicanes in Barton caused numerous accidents (Mercury, January 15 1998), and the "Silly Isles" on Boley Park have also caused many accidents, including one a day over one fortnight.  They caused so many accidents that even the Council admitted there was a problem, although they refused to admit that the problem was caused by them in the first place. According to a report in the Mercury on February 12th 1998, road humps cause injuries to vehicle occupants, (including fractures), and increase exhaust fumes by 50%. Bus passengers are likely to be the worst affected, as buses have much harder suspensions than cars. I thought they wanted us to use buses more?

	The real reason for these humps is the prevailing politically correct view that cars are bad, and that every possible indignity, obstruction and inconvenience must be heaped upon the long-suffering motorist. A pressure group called the "Slower Speeds Initiative" (who on earth elected THEM?) is calling for 20mph limits in all built up areas, and 40mph limits everywhere else. Why? According to them it's to "detract from the glamour of driving"! This is the hidden agenda behind these plans.

	These speed humps will cause danger, discomfort, and annoyance, without making the roads in Lichfield any safer, and all in the name of some politically correct view promoted by anti-car activists. Drivers of Lichfield, write to the Council and voice your objections. (The address is Director of Development Services, Development Services Department, Riverway, Stafford ST16 3TJ). If enough people object we might, just might, make them see sense.

		Yours Faithfully,





				Chris Lamb.