Wrong attitude

ACCORDING to Garda statistics, 275 people lost their lives on Irish roads in 2008. Many people place the blame on the Government, young drivers and the Road Safety Authority.

True, all of them have a part to play in making our roads a safer place.

However, I believe there is a more serious problem — the attitude of Irish people generally to road safety. They are unwilling to obey the rules of the road.

Many of those who get penalty points or are caught drink-driving blame the garda who stopped them. Everyone is wrong except the person who committed the offence.

This is not helped by a severe lack of enforcement. There are people who break the speed limit every day and have no penalty points. The punishment needs to be tougher. For example, those mounting a court challenge should risk having their points doubled.

Daithí O’hEachach

31 Troy

Castletroy

Limerick