WHAT A very odd suggestion from M Harrison (Readers’ Letters, May 14). Perhaps this person has never seen a bump in slow-moving traffic.

After 20 minutes in a traffic jam on the A1, I was suddenly hit with force by the car behind. The driver of the third car back had lost concentration and put his foot on the accelerator. The car behind me was crumpled both ends. I was lucky, I only had rear damage and was able to drive away; very shaken, but I had not hit the car in front so didn’t have all the problems of multiple insurance claims that the others had. It was just a car length but it made a difference.

There are many reasons why people choose to drive the way they do. Often they have learned through a close shave or from witnessing someone else’s disaster. Try to be patient and you may live longer.

R Dunn, Acaster Lane, Bishopthorpe, York.



• YOUR correspondent is right to say that some people leave too great a gap between their vehicle and the one in front, causing a greater tailback than necessary. You should leave a gap no greater than that which allows you to see the wheels of the vehicle in front of you.

If you do this and the vehicle in front of you is unable to make further progress, for any reason, you will then have sufficient room to allow you to pass it, thus ensuring that you are not stuck behind it until those who had followed this advice had passed it.

Jean Dow , Darbie Close, New Earswick, York.