Sir, - I found Douglas McCowen's letter (August 7th) most refreshing on this all too distressing subject. Like him, I had the benefit of instruction from Class 1 British Police Force drivers and feel qualified to comment on Irish motoring standards.
The message that death on our roads results from incompetent and bad driving, rather than from speed alone, seems to be filtering through. I travel around 30,000 miles annually, both here and in the UK. While British motorists they have their problems too, they do stop at Stop signs; stop on an amber signal; observe lane discipline; signal at roundabouts; leave adequate distance between themselves and the car in front relative to their speed; and show respect for other road users.
I find that driving any distance within Ireland leaves me drained, both physically and emotionally, from the supreme effort required in driving ultra-defensively. Driving between the hours of 11 p.m and 6 a.m. is carried out in emergency only.
The Garda is to be congratulated on its attempts to educate motorists. However, I fear its efforts are doomed to failure. Nothing short of a ministerial Department for Road Safety, as suggested by Mr McCowen, will begin to stem the carnage.
I am constantly being asked: "How do you like living in Ireland?" My reply is always the same: "I feel privileged and honoured to live and work in this wonderful country, among some of the most intelligent and delightful people in the world. However, driving here is a nightmare." - Yours, etc., Bill Procter,
Knockfield Manor, Knocklyon, Dublin 16.