I totally agree with professional truck operator A. McNeill, (December 7), and while I agree with Rogers Rabbits' views on most things, I also take issue with him regarding the Tauranga/Waihi highway.

It would be very nice to have a four-lane highway (at great expense) between Tauranga and Waihi, complete with concrete ‘idiot strips' down the centre along with Armco barriers on each side. Resurrecting the old railway line would be even better.

But as A McNeill says, the beautiful, long smooth Eastern Expressway still has at least one serious crash a week.

There's basically nothing wrong with the Tauranga/Waihi Road. Apart from a couple of moderate bends up by Apata, the road is as safe as any other in New Zealand.

The problem is with some of the stupid, less-than-capable maniac drivers who use it. They not only put themselves at risk, but also other innocent drivers.

Until they stop producing vehicles with multitudes of gadgets for drivers to fiddle with instead of concentrating on their driving, then crashes will continue to occur.

No amount money for extra lanes and concrete/Armco barriers will safeguard against accidents caused by the few stupid and idiotic users of this otherwise safe road.

P Kelly, Te Puna.