In recent years, kerbs have been lowered or removed to make movement easier for disabled people. Three cheers for that. But two new hazards have been created.

First, the slabs used have quickly broken up and you can now trip over them.

Second, at some corner junctions, kerbs have been eliminated simply by building up the road tarmac until it is level with the pavement.

Combined with double yellow lines around corners, this allows motorists to cut corners at speed.

I am sure there are readers who have had to step back quickly on occasion. Maybe there have already been accidents.

Many German cities take a different approach. There are no double yellow lines around junctions and parking is permitted right up to the corner.

This means turning cars have to position themselves to maneouvre into a side road and cannot cut corners at speed.

At the same time, there is always a well-defined pedestrian crossing area one or two car lengths from the junction with lowered pavements, distinctive slabbing right across the road and, often enough, pedestrian priority lights.

Since this both creates many more parking spaces and cuts traffic speed at junctions, perhaps it is worth a trial here?

Western Road,

-Brighton