Madam, - I feel I must question the points made by John Mallon (August 17th) about road traffic accidents and speed cameras.
Firstly, he tries to justify the use of the word "accident" and does so in a very tolerant and excusing manner. It is worth noting that the word is defined in Chamber's Dictionary as "an unforeseen or unexpected event". I cannot see how the items he lists as "likely to contribute to an accident", including fatigue, bad visibility, uneven or pot-holed surfaces, or "just a simple lack of concentration" could be casually pushed aside as unforeseen or unexpected. They are neither.
The reality is that 90 per cent of all accidents are now accepted as being down to human error. If, when driving, we fail to allow for the factors mentioned as being likely to occur, or to contribute to an accident, we must accept a large part of the responsibility for the consequences. In other words, we must at all times drive in accordance with the prevailing conditions - and this is the basis of the priceless code of defensive driving.
We should also bear in mind that charges such as careless driving or driving without due care are in earnest - and, hopefully, will continue to be. So clearly is this approach accepted internationally that, in Britain, most if not all the police forces do not even use the word "accident", preferring instead either "incident" or simply "crash" and, in France, one can be charged with "endangering the life of another even without causing an accident". I would welcome the adoption of these approaches here.
As for speed control, Mr Mallon again over-simplifies. I have little respect for the camera system, either publicly or privately organised - preferring instead the long-proven method of monitoring by unmarked police cars.
But the mandatory installation of speed-limiters is a non-runner. These gadgets do, indeed, confine the vehicle to a pre-determined maximum speed, but the real consideration is that speed must at all times match the prevailing conditions, which leaves us back where we started.
Finally, there is the matter of driver qualification and I have to say that the standards of tuition, testing and use of L-plates are in disarray. But this area has political implications and we need an administration with guts to address it.
My own qualifications? Simply that I have studied the matter professionally for over 10 years, am a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists and have driven for over 40 years with a minimum of minor mishaps and no personal injury whatsoever. - Yours, etc,
JOHN NEWMAN, Dublin 11.