LAST week saw the first raft of measures in the "Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act".

Gum droppers and smokers discarding cigarette ends can be given fines of £50, soon to rise to £75. But did a discarded cigarette ever kill anyone?

Driving while using a hand-held mobile phone has killed everyone from innocent toddlers and cyclists.

So why, when millions still indulge in this potentially lethal addiction (identified as such after four years of research by a leading university), which was outlawed more than 18 months ago, is the fine still only £30?

Moreover, fly-tippers face a maximum of a £50,000 fine or five years imprisonment. It's a problem that costs taxpayers thousands of pounds a year. Do fly-tippers kill people? Speeding drivers and drink-drivers do, and they don't cost the taxpayer thousands, they cost them millions.

One council manager points to three major fly-tipping incidents in 12 months, costing £10,000 to clean up and which involved 46 council workers. How much does it cost to clean up ten fatal road crashes every day, and how many emergency workers - police, paramedics, firemen, doctors and nurses - are involved? According to the DfT, one road death costs the nation £1.5 million.

Which should be our priority? Disposing of rubbish responsibly, or driving responsibly?

Is it any wonder Britain has so many social problems when it 'dumps' life in favour of rubbish?

ALLAN RAMSAY