I WRITE in response to Victoria Young's article 'Roadside tributes 'distraction fear' (December 4) on the removal of roadside tributes, such as flowers, placed as a memorial after someone has lost their life in a road accident.

Far from being a distraction it makes me check my speed, distance of the vehicle in front, and my driving standards.

I find it touching to see flowers, soft toys and messages at the spot someone departed from this world.

David L Fairey,

Peterborough Road,

Lodge Moor,

Sheffield.

...So, flowers on roadside verges are a serious threat of distraction to drivers.

Given all the other things that can be seen from the road, is the odd bunch of flowers that significant?

Similarly, the occasional sign advertising a local shop or a by-pass campaign sign outside Thormanby are seen as distracting to drivers.

Meanwhile, councils can plant forests of road signs, but they are not considered a distraction.

And why set a target of a 60 per cent reduction in the death or serious injury of children on North Yorkshire roads?

Will it make a 59 per cent reduction a failure, but a 61 per cent reduction a success?

Why 60 per cent rather than 50 per cent or 70 per cent?

Surely, the point is to make reductions, and to continue making reductions, rather than have Blairite targets?

Dr Duncan Campbell,

Albemarle Road,

York.

Updated: 08:37 Saturday, December 06, 2003