READ with interest the Star's article on the new road layout in St Helens town centre and around Victoria Square. I agree that if a road is clearly marked as a bus lane, then at times, it may be necessary for the police to take action in order to enforce this. The question I would like to ask is, why do taxis have preferential treatment? Why are they permitted in bus lanes? In fact, why do they have reserved parking spaces? I can understand it in the case of buses, they have the capacity to carry several times as many passengers as a car. But taxis only have the capacity to carry the same number of passengers as private cars. Maybe somebody can explain this to me.

Bearing in mind the privileges that taxi drivers enjoy, it is no wonder that, in the majority of cases their road manners leave a lot to be desired. In my experience taxi drivers seem to have an attitude of complete disregard for other road users. This is particularly apparent in Hall Street where one will often find taxis pulling out without regard to other traffic, drivers standing up in the road chatting and cabs stopped, holding up traffic, while waiting for a space in the rank.

In closing, I must say that on occasions I have come across some very courteous taxi drivers, but unfortunately in my experience they seem to be a very small minority.

PERPLEXED (name and address supplied).