Sir, – Áine Uí Eadhra (January 3rd) refers to the large number of vehicles with defective lighting on Irish roads and the problem is certainly of epidemic proportions. It has worsened significantly over recent winters and is yet another manifestation of the irresponsibility of many road users when policing of road behaviour is almost non-existent.
Increases in penalty points and the urgings of the Road Safety Authority are utterly useless in the absence of rigorous enforcement. The appalling lack of manpower and resources suffered by An Garda Síochána in recent years has clearly prevented sufficient attention to traffic law enforcement and it is inevitable that road user behaviour will deteriorate when there is little prospect of detection.
The increase in road deaths in 2014 must be a consequence of inadequate traffic policing – and the resultant indifference of many road users to traffic laws is to be seen daily. It is impossible to take the shortest journey without encountering drivers using hand-held telephones, driving with dangerously defective lighting and engaging in other irresponsible behaviour.
It is to be hoped that the new management of An Garda Síochána will have the courage to demand the resources necessary to provide effective and conspicuous policing of Irish roads. Doing so will not only ensure that our roads are safer and that lives will be saved but, moreover, the unfortunate perception that our police service is inefficient will be corrected. – Yours, etc,
PETER COOGAN,
Celbridge,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – I share concerns about the increase in road deaths and injuries. Speed is obviously often to blame but pedestrians in dark clothes on dark nights or in heavy rain do not seem to realise how invisible they are. Most cyclists now wear high-vis clothing as they know their lives are at risk if they are not easily visible. Pedestrians also should wear a reflective vest, armband or belt when out in the dark. I am also perturbed by the reluctance of many drivers to switch on dimmed headlights in rain and twilight; I have seen several near-misses recently when unlit cars have emerged from the gloom unnoticed by oncoming traffic or pedestrians. – Yours, etc,
MARGARET MARSHALL,
Belfast.