IN response to the remarks of Mr M Nottingham (Letters, September 25), on the standards of driving in the USA, allow me to present a moderating opinion.

I'm afraid he is misled by the broadcaster's beliefs that road-rage, racing and speeding are not a part of everyday life on America's roads. Believe me, they all are.

I have lived in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas, for more than four years since leaving England - I'm a Blackburnian - and I've visited many US cities during that time and driven many, many miles in and around those cities. While living in England, I also drove many thousands of miles on business. I think my experiences allow me to compare both countries.

Across America, overtaking on either side is common-place, though strictly not legal. I recall that this was once considered, and subsequently discounted, in the UK.

In the UK, one of my greatest frustrations on the motorway was that the outside lane was always full of cars bumper-to-tail while the inside two lanes were virtually empty. There was nowhere to go legally to make better progress and ease the conditions for everyone. In America, we have almost the opposite effect. People will cruise in any of the lanes available and others will zip around them on either side. Once it is in the mentality of drivers that you may be passed on either side, it works very well and is not as dangerous or chaotic as it sounds.

In America, on those busy freeways, indicating to change lanes is often ignored by the other driver you are signalling to in their got-keep-ahead mentality. I think that is why many people simply don't bother to indicate at all, or until they have almost completed their manoeuvre.

Recently, I was stopped for doing 52 in 40mph stretch. My penalty was about $100 fine, 90 days' probation and compulsory attendance at a defensive driving class, which lasted two evenings. The class was very informative and, I believe, should actually be a pre-requisite to obtaining a licence and should re-taken every two or three years.

I'm sure that the Texas Department of Public Safety must have some figures which show these classes actually reduce the number of accidents.

So, please, don't be under the misapprehension that the angels behind steering wheels are all to be found in America. There is little to be learned and applied in the UK by watching driving habits here.

ANTHONY F DUNBAR, Plano, Texas, USA.

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