AS a motorist, I complain bitterly every time a tax increase on cars is proposed, but donning my 'pious' hat, I admit that anything that will reduce the amount of traffic pollution is better than watching a child choking in an asthma attack.

I would suggest, however, that instead of trying to reduce the number of cars, the aim should be to reduce the number of drivers.

Drivers convicted of drink driving should be banned for life or for at least one year for every point over the limit.

The same should happen to drivers guilty of speeding - one year's ban for every mile per hour over the limit.

Stand at any set of traffic lights and you will observe at least three cars go through on red. Again a life ban should be imposed on offenders.

Such measures maybe draconian, but they would only remove from the road the most dangerous drivers. And no responsible driver would complain or have anything to fear.

G SMITH, Bold Street, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.