Sir, You state that “building more and more roads is neither feasible nor desirable” (leading article, Oct 31) as if it is indisputable. Although high-speed rail is a valuable part of the nation’s infrastructure, it only benefits a select portion of the community. Only 20 per cent of journeys are taken by public transport, including those by bus and coach. Rail accounts for only 7 per cent of total miles travelled.

There is a limit on the modal swap from roads to rail simply because of the multitude of types of journeys made by road, whether for people or goods. No amount of public transport funding can change that. Financially, if road transport were to change completely to public transport the UK would be bankrupt immediately.

Your leading article seems to agree with congestion as a control and revenue function. A poor state of affairs for the future, where green technology is making road transport far more acceptable. It is convenient for politicians and media to accept blindly the lobbying from the public transport providers, yet ignore the needs of the majority.

Humphrey Squier
Rochford, Essex

Sir, There is no need to use any more land to increase the capacity of the motorways. We just build another motorway above, as we have done over the Dartford Crossing. Then the ground level section of the M1 could head north and the high-level section south. Ramps would connect the existing exits and service stations to the high-level section.

J. B. MacGill
Ascot, Berks

Sir, Two young men, a young woman and I drove in a little black car down the M1 soon after it opened, on the way from Bedford to St Albans. We came to a dense patch of fog. One of the men got out and walked just in front of the car for a mile or two until the driver could see the road again. We felt quite safe proceeding slowly behind our friend’s shadowy figure. This was at a Friday rush-hour time.

Philippa Russell
Birmingham

Sir, Some things have changed but not all (front-page picture, Oct 31). Certainly the amount of traffic has changed beyond expectations, but what have not changed are driving habits: the chap shown behind the wheel is clearly speeding and hogging the middle lane.

David Lovelady
Ormskirk, Lancs

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