Sir, - Peter Molloy (August 21st) raises an interesting question. Do we really need garda∅ for traffic control? After all, it is not rocket science and with a week's training by a professional anyone could do it.
Local councils and corporations should be given the authority to make the appointments as they do with traffic wardens and lollipop ladies.
There is an urgent need for non-Garda point-duty personnel. Every day we hear reports of traffic lights on the blink and the mayhem this causes to traffic. Local point-duty personnel could be at a scene fairly quickly once a report comes in, perhaps via the AA. They could keep traffic moving until the fault was sorted out. They could get from place to place by scooter to avoid getting snarled up in the very traffic problem for which they are required. - Yours, etc.,
Brendan M. Redmond, Hazelbrook Road, Terenure, Dublin 6W.