It would appear the current trend is to cancel all modes of transport at the least provocation.

I do not remember such happenings during the 1962/3 winter when in many places the snow was much deeper and lasted a much longer duration.

What has happened to the British backbone? Are we at the mercy of Health and Safety or have we become a namby-pamby country?

Having lived in the West Country and in the North, I have experienced many severe winters and have taken precautions.

I would consider that at least 90 per cent of drivers in the South took little heed of the many warnings given about the expected weather conditions.

It is habit to jump into a car in the morning to get to work without thought of any impending weather changes.

Thus when about to drive home and the weather has changed for the worse, it is little wonder that long queues formed on all the roads.

This could be due to the unpreparedness of the employed after a hard day’s work, but much could also be said of those drivers who, for whatever reason, chose to drive at approximately 3mph.

This contributed greatly to the queues and especially at the slightest hill gradient when they had insufficient thrust to climb. Also such items as winter tyres or snow chains would have greatly expedited the travel home.

I really endorse those cheers for the volunteers who were at hand and ready to assist wherever it was needed. That was really brave. Well done all of you.

I think that in the autumn of every year every driver should attend a course on winter driving. Having done so they would have a coloured certificate to place in their car window.

When severe weather conditions do arrive only those with such certificates would be allowed on the roads.

This would help reduce accidents and help prevent queues of tired travellers getting held up for long periods.

PETER MAIDEN
Address supplied