Sir, - One hundred and fifty road deaths occur every day in Europe. If the same statistic were applied to air travel, there would be uproar. But accidents are not the only cause of deaths involving automobiles.
A recent survey released by Harvard University found that 30,000 people die every year in America from illnesses related to car exhaust. As the single largest source of air pollution, it is also one of the prime culprits in global warming which causes extreme and dangerous weather conditions around the planet.
Despite this we are force-fed a constant stream of slickly-produced advertisements for cars showing them to be safe, comfortable and stylish status symbols. We are insidiously duped into believing we all need cars. Of course they are necessary for people who live in rural regions which are inadequately served by public transport, but the increase in cars on our roads is outrageous. At a time when environmental experts have urgently recommended the reduction of fossil-fuel burning, we are shifting into auto-overdrive. Unfortunately, the automobile industry, allied to the fossil-fuel lobby, is one of the most powerful in the world and one of the slowest when it comes to facing up to its responsibilities. Meanwhile governments sit by and watch complacently.
R. Devitt (February 18th) complains about pornography being placed next to motor magazines on newsagents' shelves. He states: ". . . when I am innocently trying to peruse my two-litre turbo-charged car of the month, the disapproving lady next to me is convinced I am a dirty old geyser . . ." Not so innocent, I'm afraid, R. Devitt.
It's time we woke up and smelt the real filth. It's deadly. - Yours, etc.,
Nicholas Harvey, Crosthwaite Terrace, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.