I HAVE recently started a new job which involves driving through (or rather stopping at) the chicanes near Heslington during the morning and evening rush hours.

What should be a ten-minute drive can take up to 30 minutes because of this.

I have seen cars and vans drive around the inside of the chicanes, vehicles whose drivers intend to come through regardless of whether anything is coming the other way. One night somebody drove right into one of them.

Can the jokers who dream up these idiotic schemes let me know how this can be construed as traffic calming?

Julie Wilson,

Main Street,

Fulford, York.

Updated: 10:17 Wednesday, December 17, 2003