Letters: Giving drivers more time will stop 'amber gamblers'

I was interested in the article "Safety drive aims to put brakes on the amber gamblers" (News, February 14)

Whilst I will never condone a driver going through a red light, most drivers will have done it at some point.

Have you ever been in the situation where the lights suddenly change when you are almost right upon them? What do you do? Slam the brakes on hard and possibly risk the person at the back running into you, or accelerate and hope you clear the lights before they hit red?

In most cases of someone going through on red it will be the result of not quite timing your decision to stop or continue as in the above quickly enough.

Which is probably why there is a slight delay between one junction turning red and the other one turning green, although that still does not legitimise anyone jumping a red light.

What I think the authorities should try rather than penalising people is to increase the time between amber first showing and the red light coming on. Perhaps this might cut down on those going through on the red.

I often find the gap between amber and red is not long enough to react, particularly if you are close to the lights when they change.

I would also ask the authorities to consider what is also done in other countries, and that is to allow drivers to continue through red lights such as pedestrian crossings if it is quite clear that no-one is waiting to cross, or perhaps making a left turn at a junction if it is safe to do so.

Allowing drivers to do this would speed up the traffic flow and perhaps reduce congestion.

Alastair Macintyre, Webster Place, Rosyth

Appetite for good deal from pupils

I MUST applaud the pupils of St David's RC High School for having an eye for a good deal (News, February 15). Getting pizzas delivered on the "two for one" Tuesday for a nice lunchtime treat is genius.

While everyone agrees that healthy eating must be promoted, it surely can't be forced and eating a pizza once a week is not going to send you to an early grave.

I'd be more concerned about drug dealing, which I'm sure happens at many secondary schools' gates.

Scott Gillies, Hillview Road, Ormiston

Local solutions best for schools

HENRY Philip (Interactive, February 15), writing from his experience as a former headteacher, might be correct in asserting that a faculty system is inferior to that of principal teachers.

I doubt it is so simple. Some Edinburgh schools already operate a faculty system and many consider it to be more effective and efficient. Local solutions by headteachers are best.

However, he apparently adopts the oversimplified and unrealistic position of pitting 'educational' reasons against 'saving money' reasons. It is not an 'either/or' choice but a difficult balance.With expected national borrowing for this year of around 150 billion it would be foolish not to consider the finance available. I would have thought that is one of the lessons of the last few years.

Cameron Rose, Conservative education spokesman, Edinburgh Council

NHS Lothian is in a healthy state

I NOTE with interest your report on NHS Lothian's recruitment of a Director of Communications (News, February 10).

This article refers to our progress towards meeting the Scottish Government's target of reducing senior managers by 25 per cent over the five-year period of the Scottish Spending Review.

We already have an excellent track record in reducing the number of senior managers - down 26 per cent since 2007 - and are ahead of schedule in meeting the Scottish Government's requirements.

By the end of year one (March 2011) we will have achieved 37 per cent of this reduction.

Alan M Boyter, director of Human Resources and Organisational Development, NHS Lothian