Sir, - The recent launch of the "FLy the Flag" campaign by the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment's is all very laudable, but in my opinion is another useless piece of public relations for his Department.
The number of deaths on our roads will not be drastically reduced until the Government take drastic action. From what I have seen over the years there are good, sensible drivers on our roads, and lunatics. It's the lunatics that need to be punished severely.
Is it not time that the Ministers for the Environment and Justice took the matter seriously? The Government should form a Garda Highway Patrol Unit whose sole function would be the control of traffic regulations (not Ministerial escort duties). Heavy on-the-spot fines and licence banning would clear the lunatics off the roads and the fines imposed would make the unit pay its way.
Do we have to wait until some Minister and his family are massacred in a road accident for some real action? - Yours, etc.,
James Purcell, Hampton Cove, Balbriggan.