LAWRENCE SMYTH,
Madam, - Martin Newell (February 25th) writes: "The terrifying deficit in road quality is the most serious crisis facing people west of the Shannon".
He has raised an issue that concerns the people of Co Donegal who drive on the N56, which is a national road.
The quality of road surface tolerated by the people in many areas served by the N56 is very poor. I suppose that there is some sort of standard for measuring road surface quality, which, no doubt, takes into consideration aspects such as: the lay of the surface, the roughness of the surface, the waviness of the surface, the proliferation of cracks in the surface.
The road between Falcarragh, where I live, and Letterkenny has, in many parts, a high concentration of all the aspects I have mentioned. As a result, the journey in a car or bus is very uncomfortable, as the vehicle is subject to pitching and rolling, as well as shocking bumps.
Why are road surfaces not standardised all over the country? Are the people using the N56 the most tolerant people in Ireland? Are the people using the N56 not as important as those using the M50? Does driving on road surfaces of a very poor quality cause injury to backs or necks, because of the continuous absorption of compression-type shocks?
I feel I am entitled to drive on road surfaces which do not cause my car to pitch, roll and bump. - Yours, etc.,
LAWRENCE SMYTH,
Falcarragh,
Co Donegal.