ARCHIE Burleigh’s comments about the large size of Scotland’s road network, relative to its population (Letters, February 10), brought back memories of a hitchhiking trip I made many years ago in Finland. Most of this involved walking on empty roads across miles of seemingly empty countryside, during which several hours might go by before a car came along (which usually had no space anyway). A quick search on the internet produced one website stating that Finland has 15km of road per 1,000 inhabitants, compared to Scotland’s 10.6km (the EU average being 10.1km).

This is less than many other northern nations with relatively small populations, including Norway (20km), Sweden and Ireland (both 24km), and much less than Latvia (31km), Estonia (38km) and Iceland (a whopping 45km). Other calculations produce different numbers but a consistent picture emerges: Scotland has rather less road length per 1,000 population than these other countries. They all seem to manage their road networks without help from a neighbour. Why wouldn’t Scotland?

Paddy Farrington,

46 Marchmont Road, Edinburgh.

ROBERT Hunter’s writes that laying minor carriageway markings on a potholed road seems eccentric (Letters, February 14). He should consider this area. Roads are getting beyond disintegrating yet road signs are put up in their hundreds and more. On one stretch five miles long and not very twisty, there are more than 200 separate signs, almost all completely irrelevant.

The £50-£60,000 they cost would go a long way to ensure the road surface would be fit for purpose. In addition, because of their positioning at every minor bend, it would actually have made the road safer and the money could have been used instead for road repair.

That is one short length but the folly extends over the entire local authority area.

JA Taylor,

19 The Fieldings, Dunlop.

EXTREME cyclists claim they need to use rapidly flashing ultra-bright lights to be seen amongst traffic on our roads. But how can they justify using them on routes free from motor vehicles such as shared cycle/pathways in public parks and on canal towpaths?

It’s time pedestrians and considerate cyclists were protected from these extremists.

RM Atkinson,

16 Argyll Terrace,

Edinburgh.