"It’s the impatience of the drivers that cause accidents, not roads' - Readers' views

A £100,000 package of safety improvements at the notorious Sheriffhall roundabout have been branded “a sticking plaster on a gaping wound”. Here’s what readers think...

The Sheriffhall roundabout is in line for an upgrade

Jenny Mollison: If there's a problem it's that there is too much traffic – cars with only one occupant, heavy lorries with loads that should be on trains etc. A first step would be to understand why there is so much congestion at Sheriffhall and see if a long-term solution can be worked out – and a flyover is not one of them. A short-term improvement would be to build a hard shoulder all the way to the Gogarburn end so that if and when there's a breakdown, traffic flow isn't reduced to one lane.

Lindsay Douglas: You will always have lorries with heavy loads. It’s not them that are the problem, it’s people not knowing how to use the road and a roundabout.

Gillian Hazelwood: If people who are in the wrong lane would indicate before changing lanes, it would certainly help! There's no such thing as a dangerous road, just dangerous drivers.

Anne-Marie Jones: The couple of near misses I have had on this roundabout is due to people in the wrong lanes just cutting across in front of cars to get to lane they want, usually at speed and no indicators.

Sheona Fortune: It’s one of the easiest roundabout to get round. It’s not dangerous – it’s the impatience of the drivers that cause accidents, not roads themselves. It’s well matked out with lanes but people do not have lane disicpline.

Janette Jardine: Pre-Covid I used this roundabout five days a week and frequently saw people jump the lights, change lanes without indicating etc. Some people are in too much of a hurry.

Oak Tom: Long overdue work needed. The number of tailbacks caused by this roundabout at peak times is ridiculous in this day and age.

Gemz McAulay: It’s one of the easiest roundabouts to navigate. The lanes are drawn on for you, there are lights to co-ordinate who goes when and on the approach there are lots of clear signs on the road and boards to guide you. It’s drivers who don’t have a clue or are too self-obsessed and think they’re the only person on the road that matters that are dangerous.

David McGrath: The complexity of a roundabout is lost to so many people and they are determined to take the "racing line" and ignore the road markings. The roundabout is a very simple concept and if you have difficulty using one just stay off the road.

Jimmy MacAulay jnr: It’s not dangerous at all. It’s easy to use – even the lanes light up, It's all this lot that just finished a game of Grand Theft Auto then jump in their car that's the problem.

Tam Montgomery: It should have been a flyover from day one. The whole bypass needs upgraded

ATMs on the way out?

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Edinburgh has lost nearly a quarter of its ATMs, according to a recent report. Here’s what readers had to say...

Martine McNee: I haven't used cash for exactly a year this week, but some people will always want or need it.

Kerry Small: Well we still have cheques and they were being phased out for the last ten years so I think cash will still be around for quite some time. Also with kids it’s about educating them. My sons both have cards and both know how to use money although they prefer to use their cards for purchases they also feel safer knowing if they lose their card it’s just a piece of plastic rather than actual money.

Ken Johnston: Some of our village shops still take cash only. It’s not economical to try to get broadband and the necessary technology installed.

Callum Rowley: I get that some people will always want to use cash but I never understand pulling money out a machine to hand it over minutes later in a shop. You've just needlessly touched a manky keypad and handled money as well as waste your time. Hardly ever have cash, mostly use card or Google Pay on my phone. So simple and easy to keep track of spending.

Elaine Haggon: Who wants to use a bank card to buy a paper or a carton of milk?

Ralph MacGillivary: Many shops impose a minimum spend on card transactions. This is because the banks charge them for each transaction and on small items this can wipe out any profit. So by reducing your ability to access cash, the bank then profits from transactions in shops that are no longer cash exchanges.