Sir, – The suggestion from one of your correspondents (Letters, February 2nd) that every Leaving Certificate student should emerge from school with a driving licence assumes that universal car dependency is inevitable – or even desirable.
One of the things I am most proud of in life, much to the surprise and occasional scorn of people I encounter, is never having learned how to drive.
Instead, I rely on my own two feet, a bicycle when feeling brave, and public transport when it exists. Far from holding me back, I have only ever considered the benefits of this decision, particularly in terms of my health and lower living costs.
Of course, many readers will respond that this is not practical for everyone, and that large numbers of people genuinely rely on their cars. That is undoubtedly true.
RM Block
But it is also true that a very significant share of journeys made by car in Ireland are short trips of just one or two kilometres – journeys that could often be made by walking, cycling or public transport.
Your letter writer is right to link road safety with driver skill. But safety is also about reducing traffic volumes in the first place.
If fewer people felt compelled to drive for short, everyday journeys, our towns and cities could enjoy lighter traffic, fewer collisions and lower emissions.
Perhaps they would also be designed around people rather than cars.
Driving skills matter. But so does encouraging people to take a different route. – Yours, etc,
SÉAMUS WHITE,
Stoneybatter,
Dublin 7.
