Sir, - The excellent letter from David Darmody (September 14th) gives the sharp perspective of the ordinary motorist and is like a ray of light amid the gloom of high-level Garda threats and pious hand-wringing in the media. The slavish reliance of the Garda on the radar gun and the speed camera in fixed locations is a total waste of time and energy. Any forward motion by a motor vehicle at whatever speed is dangerous and when combined with inexperience, bald tyres, poor brakes, smashed lights, bad road surfaces, blind spots, wet roads, poor visibility or drink then the forward motion becomes lethal. The radar gun can detect the forward motion but none of the other factors which can contribute to fatal accidents.
What is needed is a well equipped specialist Garda Traffic Division to deal with every aspect of moving traffic offences, or, in the case of Dublin, stationary traffic offences. Until this is established, perhaps the squad cars which can be seen parked outside Garda stations throughout the State could be more usefully employed. Our problems may not be with lack of resources but with the management of those resources. - Yours, etc.,
Michael Mahony,
Kiltimagh,
Co Mayo.