A chara, - I believe that Kevin Myers's comments on the link between the quality of our roads and road safety are timely and appropriate (An Irishman's Diary, July 31st). I accept without question that excessive speed can and does cause accidents, but I contend that the lack of a proper network of dual-carriageways is a huge contributory factor.
I have never seen any statistics to show what proportion of accidents occur on dual-carriageways (I wonder if such statistics are available for Ireland,) but it seems reasonable to assume that if all traffic is travelling in the one direction and if there are proper slipway entrances and exits, the potential for two or more vehicles colliding must be considerably reduced.
I must add that I too have long questioned the logic of having the same national speed limit on country lanes and by-ways as on modern, well surfaced, purpose-built roads. Nor can I easily understand why speed traps seem to be far more common on our few miles of dual-carriageway than on potentially much more dangerous other roads. - Yours, etc.,
Michael McCann, Knocknacarra, Galway.