THE much publicised speed bumps in the Covingham area have attracted much adverse criticism from local motorists.

Even the leader of the council, Mike Bawden has threatened to have them removed.

As a motorist and retired traffic engineer, I beg to take a contrary view.

Have the complaining motorists ever paused to consider the fact that the purpose of the bumps is to make drivers slow down?

Even if one is carrying a passenger with arthritis or a spinal injury, a competent and considerate driver will reduce his speed to a point where the effect of the bump is negligible.

I frequently drive over the bumps in Lydiard Millicent, at a speed where I will not cause discomfort to my passengers or risk damage to my car, sometimes with an impatient, tailgating motorist behind me.

As far as I am aware, there have been no injury accidents on the road through this village since the humps were installed.

My message to the Covingham motorists is: "Don't always be in such a hurry to save a few seconds".

My message to Swindon Council is: "Please don't remove those bumps; they might save a child's life".

One final point: Will the council's highways maintenance department please ensure that all speed bumps are marked with white paint, renewed as often as necessary.

The ones at Lydiard Millicent are worn off and, in this instance, they could constitute a hazard.

G Theodore Heath

Shaw