Madam, - This May has seen an increase in the numbers of people being killed on our roads. I suspect the re-emerging apathy on the part of some motorists is probably a result of the controversy surrounding the introduction and enforcement of the penalty points system.
If this is the case, then might I suggest an antidote?
Abolish motor tax and increase the excise on fuel. Those responsible for the collection of motor tax could then be swiftly deployed to operate the penalty points system since they have the expertise and resources to manage vehicle and driver databases. "Instil fear" should be their mission statement.
Moreover, abolishing motor tax and increasing the excise on fuel, changes the tax from a fixed cost to a variable cost and thus increases the incentive to leave the car at home and use alternative forms of transport.
Lives can be saved, traffic congestion reduced by moving towards a greener, more efficient, more convenient and more equitable system of tax with neither the exchequer nor the motorist out of pocket. - Yours, etc.,
DERMOT O'SHEA,
Saggart,
Co Dublin.