Madam, - The continuing slaughter on our roads will not be curbed by a knee-jerk reaction from the Government. Reducing the number of road deaths requires concerted action by a number of different Departments of state and by the local authorities.
This action should be directed towards implementing certain basic principles of transport safety.
1. Building safe highways and eliminating accident black spots.
2. Separating pedestrian and bicycle traffic from motor vehicles by providing lanes divided by physical barriers.
3. Educating all drivers and assessing driving skills before granting any licence.
4. Strictly enforcing road traffic laws.
Safe cycle ways and footpaths will encourage people to take more exercise. More school children and adults should walk or cycle to school and work, with important health gains.
I suggest that no monies be made available for building new highways or reconfiguring urban roads without such separation.
Is it too much for the citizens of this country to ask the Government to promote safe, healthy and environmentally friendly transport? - Yours, etc,
Dr BRIAN MAURER, Medical Director, Irish Heart Foundation, Dublin 4.