Kill your speed

Yesterday saw even more people are killed on Ireland's roads, this time a young couple from Co Armagh whose BMW went out of control in Dundalk town centre at 3 a.m. yesterday morning. My condolences to these people's families.

 

It's ridiculous to suggest that governments are responsible for the spate of road deaths we're seeing on both sides of the border. People are driving like maniacs when sober and like imbeciles when tipsy.

 

I'm not commenting on any one incident, but our young people in particular are showing an unsettling penchant for irresponsible speed. It's probably fairly safe for an experienced driver to do 100mph in a modern, well-equipped car on the M1 in good weather when there are few other motorists about, but to overtake on a blind hill or a devious corner doing even 30 is insanity. And yet it happens countless times each day.

 

Let's be clear: although the provisional licence system needs overhauling, these deaths have nothing to do with Bertie Ahern or Peter Hain. When a driver has 2 tonnes of high-powered steel at his disposal it is his responsibility - and no one else's - to make sure it poses no danger to himself or others.

 

Have a good journey.