Sir,

Now that the “surface dressing” season has started once more, I would like to protest about the continued use of this ineffective and dangerous method of re-surfacing our roads with tar and granite chips.

On my way home from work yesterday, I found that parts of the A4114 from Coventry to Lutterworth had been re-surfaced in this way, and within a quarter of a mile I saw two cars with shattered windscreens, and a third victim a couple of miles further on. On my way into work this morning, I counted one car with a shattered screen, and eight piles of toughened glass by the roadside.

Apart from the inconvenience, discomfort and possible cost suffered by the unfortunate motorists who have their windscreens shattered by high speed granite chips, does it not occur to the local authorities concerned that an inexperienced driver who suffers a shattered windscreen whilst taking a bend, could well lose control of the car and consequently be involved in a serious accident. In my view, the local authority would be largely to blame for such an accident and it would be interesting to know the legal position in such a case.

Is it not high time that the DOE took adequate steps to ensure that the safety of motorists was preserved whilst maintenance work is being carried out on our roads?

A.P. Conway – Bitteswell.

[Yes, it’s a dangerous scandal. It should be stopped.—Ed.]