Safety on the roads

Tailgating and lights

Sir, – The speed limit applicable on the roads in the area I reside is currently 80 km/h. When driving, I am constantly challenged by some belligerent tailgating driver or other who clearly considers his time schedule far more pressing than that of other road users.

Without effective Garda enforcement and attentive real-time monitoring, such idiotic behaviour will not alter regardless of how low the speed limits are set.

The temptation to breach limits when not observed by authority seems just too strong an impulse for too many drivers. – Yours, etc,

FRANK SLOWEY,

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Gorey,

Co Wexford.

Sir, – At this time of year, when the winter daylight hours are with us, driving and road behaviour come more into focus, especially as we are seeing an inordinate amount of road fatalities this year. Modern cars mostly have an automatic function to turn on the exterior lights of the car, but drivers should be aware, especially on darker, unlit roads, that not all automatic light functions will switch on the lights on the back of the car. It is quite common for a car to have its front perfectly illuminated, but to have no lights at the back at all. One thing drivers might look for is that the lights on the dashboard are on, because if not, then it is likely that you will have no light illuminated at the back of the car. It is easy to overlook, but to have a car with no lights on at the rear is very dangerous.

It is always worth checking. – Yours, etc,

DECLAN CARTY,

Dublin 4.