Motorway design, Irish style
Madam, - It comes as no surprise that the National Roads Authority "still favours a departure from the European norm" on the question of motorway service areas (The Irish Times, July 13th).
This simply confirms the NRA's perverse disregard for standards developed over many years by countries whose motorway networks are far more advanced and complex than ours.
Take, for example, the inadequate size and poor siting of many road signs on our motorways, which make it all too easy for motorists to overshoot the required exit.
More than once I have seen vehicles stop suddenly and attempt to reverse towards the junction rather than carry on to the next exit which may be many miles out of their way. This obviously represents a considerable hazard to vehicles following behind, as well as to themselves.
Ireland was late in developing its motorway network and should have been able to take advantage of experience gained elsewhere. Instead, on issues such as signage, median barriers and service areas, the NRA seems determined to re-invent the wheel - and come up with a square one. - Yours, etc,
ROY STANLEY, Beechwood Park, Dublin 6.
Madam, - The incompetence of the NRA is of Olympian standards. However, if your story in Wednesday's Motoring supplement is to be believed, the authority has surpassed itself.
I quote: "Thousands of HGVs will have to use overtaking lanes on the M1 when entering or leaving the tunnel"; and: "Lorries exiting the tunnel will have just 1km of the M1 to cross from the fast lanes to access the M50 slip road."
I leave your readers to ponder in astonishment and merely offer two pieces of advice. To A&E departments, brace yourselves. And to the Minister, for God's sake, fire someone! - Yours, etc,
MAURICE O'CONNOR, Mill Road, Colpe, Drogheda.