A local driving instructor has said that the apparent increase in the frequency of accidents on the A78 is almost entirely due to drivers not driving ‘to the road conditions’ and treating the Largs-Skelmorlie route like a rally section.

Mr David Agnew, writing to the Largs & Millport News stated that contrary to community councillor Douglas Blair’s opinion that this is a “1930’s road which fails to meet modern day needs,” the road, if well maintained and driven properly, needn’t be any more challenging than many other trunk roads built around our coastline." He added: "I fail to see how any expensive realignment will make any notable difference given that it will continue to be driven by the same drivers with the same mentality.

"It is all too easy to look for faults in the road when something has gone wrong, but, in my opinion, the majority of accidents on this road are usually due to the driver’s inappropriate use of speed and poor judgement.

I have driven the road for thirty years and have taught people to drive on it for half of that time, during which I never cease to be astounded at the daily risks taken by other drivers as their apparent need is greater than everyone else’s. Any raised blood pressure which I may have experienced has been caused exclusively by the behaviour and actions of other drivers and never by the actual road itself." Mr Agnew's full statement and page of views is in the Largs & Millport News of January 22.