LettersTue 7 Jan 2020
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Your editorial (27 December) says that “In the age of climate emergency the car is no longer the star”. The car has never been the star – more an asteroid that hurtles on our roads, too often out of control.
A significant omission from your long editorial was the annual global strike rate: 1.35 million killed, countless millions suffering life-changing injuries, many of whom are pedestrians and cyclists. Any other machine with this killing record would not be tolerated by intelligent caring creatures.
No mention was made of the behavioural changes that overcome some otherwise careful and considerate individuals. Once behind the wheel of their box, they are isolated, feel secure and, with terrifying power under their feet, become reckless toads of our roads.
Phase out the car, run trains on our motorways, trams and buses on our A roads, walk and cycle shorter town and city distances.
Learn to share again and liberate our urban centres from the tyranny of the private car with all its undeniable ills.
Dick Follows
Lancaster
