NO driver likes speed bumps when they are going over them. They slow us down and rattle us about.

However, that is no reason to suddenly get rid of the thousands of speed bumps on roads in towns like Bolton up and down the country.

They were put there for a good reason: to slow drivers and make local conditions safer for everyone, especially children. So for Environment Secretary Michael Gove to talk about now ripping them up as part of plans to reduce pollution sounds crackers. His argument is about stopping drivers from slowing down and then speeding up again.

If local councils remove speed bumps without installing other traffic-calming measures like chicanes or speed cameras, many parents would be wary of allowing children to walk or cycle along certain roads. There could be more accidents and some drivers would just take this as a green light to speed.