Safety and road markings

Sir, – Concerning the number of road deaths in the country this year, and the Government’s proposal to reduce speed limits in order to address this problem, I would like to propose something that, to my mind, would make our roads a lot safer and cost little. I refer in particular to road markings.

In general, the quality of road markings around the country is poor, excluding perhaps newer tracts of road, where markings are fresh. On many of our roads the markings are hardly visible, and in many places non-existent. Measures put in place under the heading of “traffic calming” are laudable, if in fact they were safe. I believe that many of these traffic calming measures are in fact hazardous. There is inadequate highlighting of kerbs where there is narrowing of the road on entrance to towns and villages. A vehicle hitting any of these kerbs will most certainly cause a serious accident. I am sure the small cost of high-quality paint to keep the hazards on our roads highlighted for drivers would help reduce accidents, and make driving through our country a less nerve-wracking experience. Another hazard is inadequate cutting back of scrub and foliage on the sides of our regional and county roads, pushing vehicles across the middle of the road. I have encountered too many of these road hazards around the country and in my local area. I would ask our Road Safety Authority to please consider painting our roads and kerbs, and cleaning the sides of our roads, to a standard adequate for road safety. – Yours, etc,

ÚNA

KILGARRIFF-DOONEY,