Policing and road safety

Madam, - In light of the Minister for Justice's recent announcement about increased numbers of gardaí patrolling the roads to…

Madam, - In light of the Minister for Justice's recent announcement about increased numbers of gardaí patrolling the roads to reduce the level of road accidents, I was surprised when, on the recent bank holiday weekend, I was able to drive from Greystones, via Gorey, New Ross, Enniscorthy, and Waterford to Midleton, Cork and Clonakilty and all the way home, without ever seeing any form of checkpoint or surveillance by any garda on any of the main roads at any time.

Surely, if road safety is to be taken seriously, the constant pronouncements by Ministers and Garda Commissioners about increased levels of enforcement and surveillance have to be backed up by visible gardaí on the roads. Until then the carnage is sure to continue. - Yours, etc.,

MARK FELTON, Kenilworth, Church Road, Greystones, Co Wicklow.