WITH regard to the December 27 article about damage caused to buses on the Openshaw Drive route in Blackburn because of speed ramps. I am not surprised one bit.

As I live off Openshaw Drive, I have to negotiate those ridiculous speed ramps myself.

I have always argued that speed ramps do not work one bit -- the people that they are designed to slow down simply ride the ramps at whatever speed they want.

If I was a joyrider I would take delight in hitting the ramp as fast as I could do to add to the thrill of the ride and not bother one bit about any damage cause to the vehicle!.

I would welcome the time when motorists could sue councils for damage caused by speed ramps -- then they would soon have them dug up.

I can fully sympathise with bus drivers who have to drive on routes strewn with speed ramps -- the kick you get in the back from hitting these at only 15mph can be bad depending on the type of vehicle you are in, I have discovered.

Adding chicanes or other obstacles would not work either, they simply distract drivers from other hazards, like say, a child about to run into the road.

Also the constant braking, acceleration, wear on suspension and repeated stresses on bodyshell can hardly be described as environmentally friendly, can it?

Also, I would take a longer route without speed ramps to get to a destination rather than take a shorter route with speed ramps thus adding to more pollution etc.

I certainly would never live somewhere like Tockholes where the journey from one end of the village to the other is nothing short of stressful, I think I counted about 20 sets of speed ramps.

If speed is a problem then add cameras and increase fines.

I have no problem in driving at a constant 20mph on estates, but I do have a problem with the discomfort of driving over speed ramps that don't work and cause damage to vehicles being driven at well below the speed limit!.

MARK STUBBS, Cranshaw Drive, Blackburn.