COLIN Vause’s comments on the use of mobile phones by drivers (Examiner, May 23) draws attention to this universal road safety problem.
As a result of these activities, death, serious injury and non injury collisions are more serious than is appreciated.
When it was just about talking, mobile phones were bad enough, but now there’s texting, playing games, even browsing the internet. The absolute arrogance of drivers, who are prepared to put lives at risk is a scandal.
We were caught in a slow moving, three lane jam on the M1 last October near Sheffield.
We were in the middle lane, sometimes stopped, sometimes slowly making progress. As the lines of traffic predictably moved at different rates, a vehicle came alongside and children were in the rear watching a movie on DVD player screens.
As we inched forward we noticed the driver, presumably dad, also watching his own screening of the movie. To add insult to injury, he was also texting on his smartphone.
Not only prepared to put others at risk, but also youngsters in the rear. Sadly, an extreme case of what can be seen everyday, everywhere.
We noticed this bizarre behaviour from a motorcycle so our sight lines enabled us to witness the whole sorry situation. Of course, this is not an isolated incident, however extreme.
What, for example, possesses people to get on the mobile immediately after leaving a supermarket car park or some other situation when that “important” call just has to be made ? “Hello, I’ve just left the car park.”
Other than the ignorance and the sheer habit of it all the problem is that there is no deterrent. A pitiful fine, plus points that can be “negotiated” and the almost absolute certainty that there’s no law enforcement out there dealing with this insanity.
Speed cameras, traffic management and the rest are no substitute for addressing a national scandal with a proactive highway patrol.
A note on the mat to inform you activated a speed camera well after the event has no bearing on road safety.
Maybe a £1,000 fine, lose your licence (no mitigating circumstance) and your vehicle confiscated to help pay the costs of those who become victims would make folk think a little bit about their responsibilities on the road rather than their perceived “rights”.
But no, it won’t happen. The car and the mobile phone are big money spinners, not only for the involved companies and sponsored sports, but also the government.
If this disease was actually dealt with, just think what it would cost the Treasury. In the meantime, as ever, forget there are victims.
John Procter
Huddersfield
Your right to buy
THE COALITION GovernmentŠis giving council tenants in Kirklees the chance to buy their homes under our reinvigorated Right to Buy scheme.
Householders who have worked hard and done well can now get a discount of up to £75,000 to help achieve their dream of home-ownership.
And for the first time, our intention is that every extra home sold under the scheme will be replaced by a brand new affordable home to help meet the housing needs of other hard-working families in the area.
We are determined to ensure every eligible tenant has the information they need to decide whether taking this life-changingŠ step is the right choice for them.
I’d urge anyoneŠ who wants to find out whether theyŠ have theŠRight to Buy to contact Štheir landlord.
Tenants in council properties should contact Kirklees Council on 01484 221000 or email customer.enquiries@kirklees.gov.uk.
Other social housing tenants may have ‘preserved’ Right to Buy and should contact their landlord to find out more or visit www.facebook.com/righttobuy
GRANT SHAPPS MP
Minister for housing and local government
Route of the problem
FROM time to time people are taken the wrong way when using a sat nav.
However, if they think the device is taking them the wrong way, do not go that way and get back on to the main destination route.
Then, providing the device has the correct information put in it, you should get to your destination all right.
However, for people who do go the wrong way I suggest you get on to the Tom Tom website. Tell them what has happened and then it can be corrected on the satellite.
A web address should be in a booklet given to you with the sat nav itself.
If nothing is said then nothing will be done to correct the situation.
A sat nav as you know can only work on the information that is put into it. I have a Tom Tom sat nav and therefore I go to Tom Tom sat nav support. There is a question and answer website on there.
You may have another one make of sat nav so just tell sat nav manufacturers your problems irrespective of what make it is.
Colin Liversidge
Dalton
Fresh thinking needed
THE Government’s latest estimated figures on unoccupied/available housing stock nationally is 870,000 which begs the question of why new sprawling housing developments across precious green belt land is warranted other than to accommodate an anticipated population explosion.
That explosion is chiefly of EU economical exodus proportioned migrants arriving here daily in droves to our shores nurtured by the illegal EU entity which without that wouldn’t have been necessary.
It’s now only a matter of time before the UK indigenous become a mirage in their homeland at the expense of ever expanding EU-led multi-culturism that is being imposed in the absences of true democracy.
Mr Corcoran
Lockwood
Fudged economics
CHOCOLATE money is given to children as a treat. With a history of fudged economic data and fudged political compromises, it is clear that the Euro is merely fudge money.
To the cynical among us it appears that the children have taken over the sweet shop. How else can the apparent determination of eurozone members to carry on gorging on the sweeties, despite stern warnings that severe tummy-ache will inevitably follow, be described except as childish self-indulgence?
In the adult world, outside the Euro sweet shop, it is clear that the common currency never had a shred of economic validity. It was, and is, founded on a lie.
The truth behind the Euro is that it only ever made sense as a major step along the road to some United States of Europe.
It is a political, not economic, project and its sponsors long since decided that Greek-style economic chaos is a price worth paying for the ultimate prize of a European superstate.
In the view of the Euro-elite the occasional bout of tummy-ache caused by over-indulgence, whilst uncomfortable for a short time, is justified as a means of keeping the children from worrying about what the grown-ups are doing with their inheritance. Patronising? Yes, but typical of the europhiles.
Also typical is the sleight of hand going on. While our attention is gripped by economic woes we risk taking our eyes off the more important ball of sovereignty.
Our courts, laws, constitution and traditions are being rapidly eroded by corrosive Europeanisation.
We still make our own laws, but they can only be enforced if Europe approves. We remain a Nation State, but only for so long as it suits the EU to allow it.
May I remind Messrs Cameron, Clegg and Milliband that they are leaders of Her Majesty's Government and Loyal Opposition respectively?
Their job descriptions do not include loyalty to some Eurostate.
Bill Armer
Deighton
Socialist credentials
AND here’s me thinking that Barry Sheerman was a socialist.
I’d be happy to meet him and explain what’s involved. (‘I'd abolish all benefits for the under 25s,’ Examiner, May 23).
Perhaps we could start with benefits for the disabled. You’re in the wrong party, Barry
Tony Wiltshire
Huddersfield
