Sir, – The public is utterly exhausted by the predictable cycle of “thoughts and prayers” and political platitudes that follow every road tragedy. It is deeply exasperating to see Ministers continuously asking what frontline gardaí need, when the Crowe Report has sat with departments for over a year and the Garda Representative Association (GRA) has been pleading for resources for years.
We do not need more hand-wringing, consultations or strategies; we need action. A mere five average-speed cameras and nine static safety cameras across our entire national road network show just how sluggish the official response remains while families continue to suffer preventable losses.
The Government must immediately establish an emergency national road safety expert taskforce. This cannot become another slow-moving talking shop.
It requires a mandate to bypass bureaucratic bottlenecks and force immediate implementation, including rapid automated camera deployment and a substantial increase in frontline roads-policing units.
RM Block
Every life is precious and every life matters. We have passed the point where incremental progress is acceptable. We must move from strategy to rapid implementation to save lives. – Yours etc,
CLLR MARIE CASSERLY,
Independent Councillor,
Sligo County Council,
Sligo.
Sir, – I welcome Kathy Sheridan’s article (“Grown-ups had a role in every part of the M9 carnage,” August 19th). Her final sentence should be heeded by our national broadcast and print media: “The media could begin by staying away from the funerals.”
I sincerely hope that this will be the case. – Yours, etc,
DEIRDRE GLOSTER,
South Circular Road,
Limerick.
Sir, – It is fine up to a point to describe the recent carnage on our roads as acts of reckless nihilism (Editorial, August 18th).
The harsh reality is that the young people who appear to treat the lives and safety of their fellow citizens as an opportunity for sport come from within our society and our communities.
Most of those involved are mere teenagers and, in an ideal world, should be subject to some form of parental guidance and awareness.
One hesitates to use the term ‘feral’, but more and more here in Ireland, it seems, teenagers are aggressively roaming our streets, acting without fear of the consequences and without restraint.
The families of all those who have suffered deserve our condolences, but basic questions remain unanswered regarding the responsibilities of parents, families and communities. – Yours, etc,
MARTIN McDONALD,
Terenure,
Dublin 12.
Sir, – The plan to introduce pursuit training by An Garda Síochána may not be the safest strategy for solving high-speed incidents on our roads. It would be much safer to use unmanned aerial drones to track such vehicles and radio ahead to the relevant Garda units who can place road spikes/traffic stops to safely stop these vehicles.
Pursuing a high-speed vehicle with another high-speed vehicle increases the risk of a crash, whereas drone technology could safely be deployed to apprehend the offenders. – Yours, etc,
JOE DUNNE,
Shanakiel,
Cork.
