I MUST publicly thank the people of Bevendean, who came to my rescue last Wednesday when, while driving near The Hyde, I was caught out by my unfamiliarity with the road and the glare of the sun.

I mounted a curb protruding into the road, hit a traffic-calming bollard and over-turned my car.

Thank you to those who offered me tea and phoned for help. Some lads playing football helped me from my car and young children helped me spot small items such as keys, pens and loose money which had become scattered or lodged in my car.

I must also thank the paramedic who, after I had judged it best to get out in case my car burst into flames, did his best to ensure my behaviour didn’t cause me any harm.

Now, while I’m going to have to invest in a pair of sunglasses for driving in the brilliant sunshine, I must ask Brighton and Hove City Council to explain why such iron bars are put in place?

I am used to traffic-calming devices such as speed bumps and narrowing roads at intervals with additional paving, but given that even lamp posts are designed to crumple and break on impact I wonder what these unyielding posts are supposed to achieve?

Are they slowing down cars or protecting the area from an invasion of Sherman tanks?

I feel I should revise my own suggestion for a tagline to market the city of Brighton and Hove – “If the addicts don’t mug you, your friends will” – to something more charitable in recognition of the strangers in the city who came to my aid.

Tim Robins, Victoria Mews, Cardiff