Motorists, take responsibility (From South Wales Argus)

Motorists, take responsibility

3:23pm Thursday 21st March 2013 in Letters

A TRAGIC death at the Brynglas tunnels, and for the umpteenth time, an overturned lorry on the SDR will have us calling on the environmental agency to improve these routes in the interest of road safety.

Without wishing to anticipate the outcome of the investigations, I am mystified as to why many of these events occur at all. With few exceptions, most accidents are down to an individual’s poor driving skills, at the very least, lack of concentration. I listen to traffic reports and am amazed by the frequency of serious RTAs that occur in the early mornings on quiet motorways. If poor road design was the reason most of the road network would have to be dismantled. No, my fellow drivers, we are responsible for our own conduct when driving. If we keep that at the forefront of our minds the rate of road accidents will drop considerably. I recall a comment made by Ernest Marples, a minister of transport of the 1960s, who said: “Treat every other driver as a learner.” Sound advice, is it not?

Malcolm M Richards Aberthaw Road Newport