Motorists in Oxfordshire have had a rough summer. Everywhere they go these days, there seem to be roadworks.

No wonder there have been long tailbacks, and drivers have felt frustrated.

There is, of course, no easy solution -- with the volume and weight of traffic, roads get worn out, and cables and other underground services also need replacing or repairing at times.

But the authorities are sometimes their own worst enemies.

A reader, in a letter on this page today, questions why a 30mph speed limit and warning signs have been in place on Oxford's Northern Bypass for three weeks while no work has apparently been done.

The idea of having 'smiley faces' which get happier as you near the end of roadworks might help to ease stress on the roads.

But what drivers need more than anything is accurate information about where and when work is planned, what diversions are available -- and certainly no signs warning of roadworks when there aren't any!