AS a resident who actively supported the introduction of traffic calming in our road I have to warn the residents of Cranley Gardens to be careful when they ask for traffic calming in their road. In Woodside Avenue the speed platforms have not been effect

AS a resident who actively supported the introduction of traffic calming in our road I have to warn the residents of Cranley Gardens to be careful when they ask for traffic calming in their road.

In Woodside Avenue the speed platforms have not been effective in the way that had been intended and have had perverse and undesired side effects. Responsible and law abiding drivers who never presented the problem that traffic calming was intended to address, drive sensibly over the speed platforms. Drivers who despise speed limits race over them and show their scorn and contempt by overtaking the law abiding wimps on the speed platforms. Wimp drivers are entitled to be incensed by such blatant dangerous driving, and this might well affect their own subsequent driving behaviour.

The police give daily demonstrations of how speed platforms can be taken at speed. Lorries, and especially those with mobile loads such as skips and trailers, make loud crashing sounds as they clatter over the platforms and this noise nuisance can be irritating, especially early in the morning, but also throughout the day.

In theory the traffic calming is supposed to enforce a 20mph limit when all that most of the residents wanted was to bring speeds down from 60mph to the sensible limit of 30mph. However the authorities took it upon themselves to impose a 20mph limit which has proved to be unrealistic and ineffective, but which could make criminals out of most sensible motorists when it is decided to enforce the 20mph limit and catch those travelling at 30mph.

However carefully you negotiate the speed platforms, humps or cushions, it will knock the wheels of your own car out of alignment and you must pay the extra cost of regular wheel alignment when you have your car serviced and you must be prepared for the cost of more frequent tyre replacement and shock absorber replacement.

Also, if you or any of your passengers ever suffer from back problems or car sickness you will wish that traffic calming had never happened in your road. And you can't get rid of it once installed.

The only bearable form of traffic calming is the installation of illuminated signs which show the real speed at which individual cars are actually travelling. Sensible drivers will slow down and while thrill seekers won't be affected any more than they are by bumps, you at least will be able to monitor and report the speeds at which they are travelling!

Remember the old saying 'be careful what you ask for'. It was never so true as it is with traffic calming.

Michael Heppner

Woodside Avenue, N10