Up to speed

Liberal Democrat Councillor Kevin Lang is right to draw attention to the failures of Edinburgh’s 20mph attempts (Scotsman, 8 October).

Without enforcement, human nature means many will flout the limit; it feels exceedingly dangerous to be overtaken when doing 20mph by those less patient. At the

other extreme, potholes and botched road repairs (where the new sections are in worse condition than the ‘old’ sections around them) do a great job in slowing traffic. As do gridlocked roads, where peak hour motorists can only dream of 10mph, let alone 20.

Many years ago, councils were not allowed, by law, to reduce speed limits without first introducing speed restricting measures. Do we now have a legacy of needless speed bumps, often in poor condition and many needing clear white markings? Will they be removed?

In retirement, Shanks’s pony is my preferred mode of travel in Edinburgh. However, the economic life of the city needs a good transport system. What are the views of our bus and taxi drivers? They, after all, are important in reducing travel by car. Those I speak to seem rather less than enamoured of the current 20mph attempts.

MOYRA FORREST Starbank Road, Edinburgh