Madam, - Having seen an admirably increased Garda presence on the motorways over the Bank Holiday weekend, I'd like to make a suggestion to increase the detection rate of speeding cars.
In my experience as a driver of a 10-year-old hatchback, it seems beyond the willpower of saloon-drivers to adhere to the speed limit if they're going the same speed as the small, old car in front of or in the lane beside them.
It seems a massive slight to their manhood, womanhood and most of all to their shiny carhood to stay beside a rattletrap.
So, pending the speed cameras going out to private tender, if they really want to catch speeding cars, all they need do is buy a fleet of such small, aged vehicles, drive at the speed limit and wait for people to overtake them.
However, as such motoring behaviour is so ingrained, many drivers would view this as entrapment. - Yours, etc.,
NICK McGINLEY,
Pembroke Road,
Dublin 4
... ...
Madam, - Derek Jolly asks why place a lower speed limit of 65 k.p.h (40 m.p.h) on the new Glen of the Downs dual carriageway (October 27th)?
There are probably a number of environmental reasons, such as prevention of the tyre noise pollution that results at higher speeds so that nearby residents are not too affected, also the possibility that wildlife such as deer could venture onto the road, especially at night.
Wide and straight roads are not an automatic licence to drive fast. Roads cannot exist detached from the elements and influences of the surrounding environment. -Yours, etc.
NIALL O'DONOGHUE,
Narva,
Finland