Sir, – How much will it cost Dublin City Council to replace all road signs with the new, lower speed limit? How much will the media campaign cost to educate drivers about the new change? How many drivers will actually bother to slow down without enforcement? A laughable few might.
When driving on the M50 or the dual-carriageway, everyone slows down when a Garda car is sighted. Would all this money not be better spent on the Garda Traffic Corps and have individual gardaí out on motorbikes and in cars? Without their presence on the road there is no impetus to slow down. Except when there has been an accident, of course, when everyone slows down to look. – Yours, etc,
AISLING BURKE,
Stillorgan, Co Dublin.
Sir, – Dublin City Council’s plan to reduce speed limits in most of the city to 30km/h (18 mph) is an example of simplistic and unrealistic thinking. It is virtually impossible to drive a car at such low speed for an extended time without constantly monitoring the speedometer, thereby not monitoring the road. You would fail your driving test if you drove like that. Cruise control doesn’t kick in at such speeds. It is commendable to want to reduce road deaths but balance is needed in all these matters. Common sense, please; 30 km/h outside schools and other high-risk areas, but not everywhere. – Yours, etc,
JOE KENNEDY,
Dún Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – So the Automobile Association Ireland is objecting to proposals to reduce the speed limit in Dublin city centre and make it safer for pedestrians ("Dublin city speed limit plan 'absurd', says AA Ireland", July 14th). It's reassuring to know that someone is fighting the pernicious forces of our nanny city council. Pedestrians must learn to take responsibility for their own safety. Let us hope that the AA continues to campaign for the rights of this oppressed group.
Why not ban all children, old folk, indeed all walkers and cyclists, from our streets? Losers who can’t drive should stay indoors, instead of roaming around annoying drivers.
Imagine what a beautiful city Dublin would be, minus the pesky pedestrians! Happy motorists could whizz down Grafton Street, around College Green, up O’Connell Street, as in days of yore.
What a glorious victory for the Automobile Association. God speed! – Yours, etc,
ÉILÍS NÍ DHUIBHNE,
Shankill, Co Dublin.