IT is hardly surprising that statistics show Blackburn with twice the national average of chronic lung disease cases (LET, May 14, 1998), when it is one of the most 'Traffic calmed' towns in Lancashire and the worst affected districts appear to be those with the most severe calming.

Internal combustion engines are pretty inefficient as most of the energy they use is lost to atmosphere through the exhaust and radiation. At speeds below about 60mph, the amount of fuel consumed and the amount of pollution generated is, therefore, dependent on the total time under power.

If a vehicle is forced to slow to negotiate a hump or mini roundabout and then accelerat to the original speed, the overall fuel consumption for the distance from the start of braking to the end of accelerating is vastly increased, especially at the foot of a hill.

It is perhaps understandable that politicians are prepared to accept the science of environment and transport as portrayed today, but it seems that the apparent decline of widespread quality technical education over the past 20 years has allowed the 'facts' to become distorted.

Perhaps many road safety and environmental lobbyists have much in common with the 18th century medical practitioners, who inflicted nasty remedies on their unfortunate patients and often made the overall illness far worse.

Perhaps Councillor Adrian Shurmer of Hyndburn, and others, can break the spell of traffic calming with his proposed policy review. However, I expect that the university-based 'high priests' who originally invented the concept of traffic calming can rely on politicians from all parties to continue defending current policy.

There are more enlightened methods for reducing death on the roads than inconveniencing everyone and risking disabling both children and adults with asthma. Traffic calming may also prevent the development of faster, cheaper, more reliable public transport in towns.

It is probably very efficient at forcing cyclists to delay buses and also probably ensures that cyclists often get a lung full of extra thick smoke when a delayed bus or truck finally manages to pass safely.

Alleged road safety measures usually reduce the road space available, often making it almost impossible for drivers to avoid anyone who inadvertently steps out, or falls straight in front of them without striking oncoming traffic.

The 'boy racer' element will not go away, as traffic calming probably encourages the worst speeding offenders to take up the extra challenge presented, but perhaps conscientious drivers are now more likely to injure or kill someone if they are concentrating more on steering and gearing their vehicle than looking out for potential child hazards.

Back problems in HGV and perhaps also bus drivers are now far more widespread. Traffic calming appears to have virtually killed the town centre of Accrington. It was once a pleasant and convenient town to visit, but many of the once-busy shops are now closed.

It appears that traffic calming policy may have been a social disaster for Hyndburn and perhaps the recent reported slump in Accrington house prices infers that many people with the choice now prefer not to live in Hyndburn any more, even though the streets are theoretically 'safer' for their children.

G PYE, Downham Road, Chatburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.