Madam, - Road deaths rightly receive high billing in the Irish media. What may not be realised, however, is that accidents caused by speeding male youths are not at all a new phenomenon.
Indeed, an early 14th century calendar of justiciary rolls records that almost 700 years ago, on April 21st, 1314, a young boy was killed in a traffic accident in Co Kildare. The incident occurred when the cart he was on board of went out of control as he sped down a steep hill on a bog road.
The roads may have improved slightly, but the mentality has changed little. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL POTTERTON, Athboy, Co Meath.