IN RESPONSE to Mr Fitton's letter (Citizen, last week), I did not suggest or infer that all taxi drivers make a lot of money.

Taxis are a necessary part of the transport system used by many different people for their own many different reasons. I agree entirely with this. What I questioned was whether taxis should be allowed their own separate driving rules with regards to restricted lanes and roads.

Contrary to Mr Fitton's belief, it does not benefit him as an operator - the only person it benefits is the person hiring the taxi, who can travel from A to B both quicker and cheaper than if they had to obey the traffic rules like every other vehicle on the road.

In business we all have to adhere to ever increasing and ever more restricting regulations. We have to adjust our costs, overheads and pricing accordingly, otherwise we are out of business. We cannot make up our own rules - and taxis are no different.

Many other road users are professional people who have to run to strict timetables and have ever increasing over-heads and operating costs. There are many small vans delivering goods locally which are in the traffic all day. Should they be allowed use bus lanes as well?

And what about the 45 tonne lorries with their costs? Time is a premium while they carry goods that would fill 25 white vans but they still have to crawl with the rest of the traffic. Why can't thet use bus lanes as well? This list goes on and we have to draw the line somewhere. Why should the person in the taxi be different?

And, as a last note to Mr Fitton, yes I am often working at midnight like yourself but you obviously do not know me. Your personal inferences are wildly inaccurate and somewhat scurrilous.

R Conway, Lancaster.