Madam, - In his Irishman's Diary of November 17th, Kevin Myers wrote about the tragic death of the German au-pair Nicole Naumburger, who saved the life of young Maeve Bosteels but was herself run over by a truck in Ballincollig, Co Cork last February.
The photograph that appeared in most of the daily papers after the recent inquest, showing the young German girl's parents sitting forlornly on a park bench, will remain with me forever.
Incidents like this are a reminder to all road users that the roadway and its environs are unforgiving when somebody is unlucky enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Mr Myers makes some very good points. Following this tragic incident in Cork and the subsequent report by Garda PSV Inspector Pat Donovan, the industry must never forget that road safety is ever important. Further design research on the potential blind-spots of trucks is necessary by the manufacturers.
The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) along with the National Council on Aging and Older People and the National Safety Council launched a campaign in the past month to retrofit older trucks with a "Cyclops mirror". This significantly reduces the "blind spot" around the front and left hand side of the truck.
Unfortunately, as the article continues, Mr Myers loses his focus. He condemns an entire sector - truck drivers and operators. Our industry is heavily regulated. The IRHA carries no brief for law-breakers. When arrogance takes a steering wheel in its hand it should not be tolerated. Never, whether in a car, truck or bus.
In reaction to the specific comments made in relation to overloaded trucks, Mr Myers may not be aware that liability for overloading a truck extends, under a new but seldom used piece of legislation called "consignor liability", to the person who loaded the truck. One of our large plcs in the construction sector was recently prosecuted successfully under this legislation.
All of my comments will be of no comfort to the parents and family of Nicole Naumburger. Those of us who operate vehicles, employ drivers, put deadlines in front of drivers or police the road network, must work harder to make what is our shop floor safer.
When an accident occurs, the circumstances should be highlighted. This is what happens in the airline industry and it is why travel by air is so safe. All road users, pedestrians and drivers, should show the same respect for the road as a sailor has for the sea. If they don't, they run the risk of becoming its victim. No driver of a car or truck sets out to kill anybody. - Yours, etc.,
VINCENT CAULFIELD,
Vice-president, Irish Road Haulage Association,
Blanchardstown
Corporate Park,
Dublin 15.