Madam, - Week by week, we hear of horrific accidents on our roads resulting in serious injuries and death. There are daily advertisements on TV showing the consequences of speeding and drink-driving.
The Minister of Transport now needs to look seriously at each accident individually to find out why the carnage is so high. Why, despite warnings of penalty points, are drivers continuing to speed? Where and when are the majority of accidents happening? What is the age profile of the drivers involved? Are the vehicles involved fully road worthy? Are tyres and shock-absorbers in good condition?
Every year, a new batch of inexperienced drivers are let loose on our roads. Should we have a system whereby one has to go through a "probationary" period on passing the test - say, one year, in which one may not drive over 50 m.p.h. After all, somebody who passed a test in ideal road conditions may have no experience of driving in freezing or wet conditions, and be a danger to other road users.
Instead of adverts showing the consequences of speeding and drink-driving, more emphasis should be put into educating drivers into the prevention of accidents, planning trips carefully and allowing extra time to get to your destination - most speeding fines relate to people being late for appointments etc.
The penalty points system needs to be fully implemented, to include such items as dangerous driving, use of mobile phones without proper car-kits, careless parking, driving too close to the vehicle in front, and driving in the overtaking lanes of dual carriageways and motorways when the inside lane is clear.
Finally, the Minister needs to seriously look at the placement of Garda checkpoints for speeding - these are mostly on main roads at present and are usually on relatively safe stretches of road. This campaign to date has been successful, and the carnage on our main national routes has certainly decreased, but there are still people driving at dangerous speeds on the minor regional roads, and this problem certainly needs to be addressed urgently, together with an overall review of speed limits on all our roads. - Yours, etc.,
ROBIN D HEATHER, Seapoint, Dunbur Lower, Wicklow Town.