WHEN speed hump legislation was enacted the Department of Transport issued some very loose design criteria to local authorities.

These allowed considerable variation in the height and profile of the humps.

I recall that after initial experience in York, a selection of hump styles were installed in a trial area at Elvington airfield, and tested by a variety of vehicle drivers. I wonder whether any feedback from these trials was made to the DoT, and whether any more rigid national design guidelines have since been introduced?

I welcomed the provision of traffic calming on the roads in my areas of Holgate.

Yes, it's a slightly bumpy ride on my trusty bike, but I'm grateful that some vehicle drivers can no longer tear along at high speeds.

Many residents are equally grateful for calming in their own streets, but some moan if they encounter similar measures in other areas of the city.

The saving to the National Health Service far outweighs the renewal cost of tyres and suspension.

Wear and tear are minimised if drivers adhere to the 20mph limit which normally applies along calmed roads.

This is preferable to the practice by some drivers of accelerating between humps then slamming their brakes on at each one.

Paul Hepworth,

Windmill Rise,

Holgate, York.

Updated: 11:13 Saturday, April 09, 2005