The thin white lines

Sir, - Week by week the terrible toll of death and injury on our roads increases and we are constantly and rightly urged to reduce…

Sir, - Week by week the terrible toll of death and injury on our roads increases and we are constantly and rightly urged to reduce speed and drive carefully. Unfortunately, the road safety campaigns, such as the excellent ones run by the National Safety Council, never seem to mention the continuous white lines, both single and double, which run down the middle of our main roads.

They are there for a purpose - and crossing them, except when is absolutely unavoidable, constitutes a dangerous infringement. Despite this, drivers frequently cross them to overtake. Whether the result of ignorance of the rules of the road, or just plain recklessness, this practice deserves highlighting in future safety campaigns as it must be a factor in countless road accidents. - Yours, etc.,

Martin McDonald, Liosbourne, Carrigaline, Co Cork.