Madam, – While driving home in the snow on Wednesday, I had three times to leave the comfort of my car to push the car ahead of me up an icy incline where it had become stuck. I did this not out of any great desire to help my fellow motorist (frankly, I hate them all), but because I would otherwise have had an even longer journey.
However, even this meagre level of cynical and self-interested social solidarity appeared to be beyond my fellow drivers, not one of whom I saw help anyone. All other assistance I saw being given was from pedestrians, predominantly the hoodied youths so popularly targeted by media instruments as being the source of all social ills, who were merrily heaving vans out of ditches with glad cries which I fear an organ of your reputation would not publish.
I found it to be a disturbing illustration of the levels of mé féin-ism and incompetence in certain sections of Irish society today, and a useful reminder that unfettered competition is sometimes no match for co-operation in achieving results. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I left Ireland after graduating from UCD in 1998 and spent the last eight years in Madrid, Spain. I find it a typical Irish reaction to blame the Government on the recent bad spell of weather.
Here in Spain, which is the second most mountainous country in Europe, we always get snow in regions above 1,000m, in fact, we get a lot of snow in winter. Gritting is important, but more important is the driver’s response to the situation. In Spain, like many other European countries, motorists are required in snow-bound regions to use winter tyres which have special grip for snow and ice.
In Madrid, where snow is less of a problem, there are checkpoints on the motorways north from the city which ensure that motorists who do not have winter tyres have at least snow chains if they choose to travel north during bad conditions.
In Austria, where I have seen temperatures dropping below minus 25 degrees, cars can also be fitted with spikes in order to deal with the severe driving conditions. I have known of foreign drivers who have not been permitted to continue with their journeys by the motorway police as their cars were not fitted with winter tyres. They would have to wait for conditions to improve before proceeding.
These are unusual conditions for Ireland and people are not prepared. However, it is not just a question of government, it is also a question of individual responsibility regarding a problem which is quiet common across the continent of Europe.
I am very frustrated by the response of the Irish media to the issue. Perhaps they could show more respect to those civil servants who are doing their best with limited resources.
Paradoxically, it is possible that Ireland could encounter colder winters in the future due to global warming with the loss of the Gulf Stream effect. My advice to the Irish motorist is: buy yourself some snow chains. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Aircraft passengers sometimes give a round of applause when their plane lands safely. This is a tribute to the cockpit crew, but also to the ground support.
Our bus drivers, alone in their cabs and completely dependent on their own skills, have been performed magnificently during our current cold spell. Unfortunately most of us would feel a bit foolish clapping as we got off the bus. Maybe a quiet “thank you” to the driver would go some way towards recognising distinguished service. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – We are an island nation fringed by sandy coastlines, so surely some of this salty sand could be utilised to replenish our dwindling stocks of grit?
Furthermore, if bags of sand or grit were left on street corners, I’m sure local citizens would happily do their bit and clear the paths in front of their homes and shops. Perhaps the Army could be called upon to co-ordinate this effort; they have the manpower, skills and means. – Yours, etc,
A chara, – Many lessons should be learnt from the incompetence shown by the national Government and local authorities in their feeble “response” to the icy road conditions, especially those endured by residents of Dublin and other parts of Leinster.
In 1979, in Chicago, following disastrous efforts by the city’s emergency response team to clean the streets of ice and snow, a political challenge was mounted, in large measure out of the city residents’ frustration. As a result, the incumbent mayor was ousted in the following election by a relative unknown who ensured such a scenario wouldn’t recur.
Residents of Dublin and the rest of Ireland should not desist from expressing their anger at the current situation. The weather conditions have not been the problem. Rather it is the inability to “sort it out” that is unacceptable.
Some 19 inches of snow fell over two days during that fateful blizzard in Chicago. Here, the governments – both national and local– have had more than two weeks of cold weather to prepare, organise and deliver a coherent and effective resolution to icy roads, streets and footpaths. The fact that this hasn’t happened should not be forgotten the next time elections roll round. – Is mise,
Madam, – Is it called a cold “snap” because of the sound of breaking bones due to all the falls in these icy conditions? If we adopted an approach similar to Italy and Spain where it is the responsibility of each household/business to clear the footpath in front of their property then maybe there would be fewer snaps? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – We have plenty of sand to deal with the icy roads and pavements in this country.
Our Government ministers have their heads well and truly buried in the stuff. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Is it time to arm myself with a €1.39, 1.5kg polybag of salt from Superquinn so I can sprinkle as I walk and help to keep pavements that councils are ignoring clear? If everyone did this, we might all stop falling over. – Yours, etc,