BOLTON, like most towns, has its own particular road accident blackspots.

People protest, traffic calming measures may be introduced, then there is yet another tragedy there.

Astley Bridge resident Mr Arthur Sandiford says, in the wake of a fatal accident, that people in the area have wanted improvements to a junction near the fire station on Crompton Way since the 1960s. This could well be the case, and it is for the Council to decide whether or not conditions there need to be changed.

What has not altered in that time, of course, is the attitude of the motorist. The average motorist sees a stretch of open road like Crompton Way, and the foot goes down on the pedal.

Then an accident occurs -- and we are all surprised.

Speed is the major cause of accidents. Link it to incompetence or bad judgement and you have a road accident toll to worry everyone in the community.

Blackspots can be attributed to road conditions, and they can be alleviated by alterations. But, basically, it is motorists who create blackspots, and the real way to ensure that these dangerous areas disappear is for drivers to take responsibility for what happens on the roads.

Without that culpability, blackspots will always occur, and road accidents will always take their human toll.