Letters

I fail to see how a talking car can be branded "unutterably boring", and if it's good enough to keep me occupied, it's good enough to keep most other teenagers occupied too.

Viraj Ratnalikar, Penllergaer, Swansea

SON'S HOPE

I am writing after reading Mike Durham's article (Running for dear life on my brother's blood cells, June 10). My son Adam was diagnosed with CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukaemia) at the age of 42, three years ago. He has had chemotherapy to reduce his count and treatment to try to take his own bone marrow. I have another son but he was not a match.

Adam's count is now high again and he is about to embark on several months of chemotherapy prior to donor transplant. It gave me real hope to read your account of the treatment you received. I wish you well and thank you.

Barbara Batchelor, Lightwater, Surrey

GEEKS FIGHT BACK

We were disappointed that Emma Smith referred to "the scruffy shop around the corner" (System down: get geek patrol on the line, June 17) and also to "queueing at the service counter for a spotty youth to scratch his heavily gelled head before pronouncing: 'I think it's had it, mate'."

We have 16 years' experience of fixing and repairing hardware and software problems and fix about 3,000 machines a year. Our staff take pride in trying to alleviate the frustration of users when things go wrong.

The services you used were franchises. Local businesses based in the community have a vested interest in supporting customers for the long term by offering excellent and expert service. Competition is good but please do not give the impression that computer repair shops tend to be inexpert and scruffy.

A1 Computers, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin

UPHILL STRUGGLE

Southborough, Goudhurst and Farthing Common hills are for pussycats (Backpedaller, last week). In the 1950s I used to cycle up Westerham Hill (774ft) on a Holdsworth with a three-speed gear. Now I doubt if I could walk up it.

Eric Monahan, Paignton, Devon

DRIVE SENSIBLY

I don't suppose there's any point in suggesting to Amanda Wells (Letters, June 24) that a cheaper and more responsible way to protect her from the inconvenience of losing her licence would be to drive within the speed limit. With nine penalty points already, probably not.

John Clarke, Little Downham, Cambridgeshire

STEALTH LIMIT

For what seems at least a year there have been cones and a 50mph speed limit on stretches of both carriageways of the M4 between junctions 10 and 11. I rarely see anyone working and the new portions of crash barrier to the side appear to have been finished long ago.

The speed cameras do an effective job of slowing traffic and that section has a number of bends. My question is: are the authorities planning to impose a permanent 50mph limit by stealth (and no doubt raise a lot of money in fines) or, if not, when are the cones and cameras going to be removed to let traffic flow freely again?

Andrew Godfrey, Seer Green, Buckinghamshire

CODE VIOLATION

Peter Quigley claimed to be quoting from the Highway Code in saying that "one is permitted to cross double white lines to overtake parked, broken-down or slow-moving vehicles, including road-mending vehicles and agricultural tractors" (Letters, June 24).

What the Highway Code actually says is, "You may cross the line if necessary to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle if they are travelling at 10mph or less." In particular it does not say that you may cross double white lines in order to overtake agricultural tractors, no matter how slow moving they are.

Mark Charrot, Colchester

Letters for publication should be sent to InGear, The Sunday Times, 1 Pennington Street, London E98 1ST or e-mailed to ingear@sunday-times.co.uk. Please include daytime and evening telephone numbers