WITH regard to the December 27 article about damage caused to buses on the Openshaw Drive route in Blackburn because of speed ramps. I am not surprised one bit.

As I live off Openshaw Drive, I have to negotiate those ridiculous speed ramps myself.

I have always argued that speed ramps do not work one bit the people that they are designed to slow down simply ride the ramps at whatever speed they want.

If I was a joyrider I would take delight in hitting the ramp as fast as I could do to add to the thrill of the ride and not bother one bit about any damage cause to the vehicle!.

I would welcome the time when motorists could sue councils for damage caused by speed ramps then they would soon have them dug up.

I can fully sympathise with bus drivers who have to drive on routes strewn with speed ramps the kick you get in the back from hitting these at only 15mph can be bad depending on the type of vehicle you are in, I have discovered.

Adding chicanes or other obstacles would not work either, they simply distract drivers from other hazards, like say, a child about to run into the road.

Also the constant braking, acceleration, wear on suspension and repeated stresses on bodyshell can hardly be described as environmentally friendly, can it?

Also, I would take a longer route without speed ramps to get to a destination rather than take a shorter route with speed ramps thus adding to more pollution etc.

I certainly would never live somewhere like Tockholes where the journey from one end of the village to the other is nothing short of stressful, I think I counted about 20 sets of speed ramps.

If speed is a problem then add cameras and increase fines.

I have no problem in driving at a constant 20mph on estates, but I do have a problem with the discomfort of driving over speed ramps that don't work and cause damage to vehicles being driven at well below the speed limit!.

MARK STUBBS, Cranshaw Drive, Blackburn.