Sir, - It is extremely depressing to read the account of the Garda Commissioner's remarks on road safety in his address to the annual congress of the Irish Vocational Education Association (The Irish Times, April 29th).
Mr Byrne spoke of the frustration of gardai in their efforts to change the mind-set of drunken and dangerous drivers. In the same week, at least two letters to your paper commented on the absence of Garda patrols on our roads. One of these correspondents sought an explanation from somebody as to why there is such inertia at official level with regard to the appalling level of deaths and injuries. She is unlikely to be reassured by Commissioner Byrne's remarks, which highlighted yet again the gulf between the public's and the authorities' perception of this problem.
Surely Mr Byrne is enough of a pragmatist to know that the mindset of reckless drivers will not be changed by the earnest philosophising of his Galway speech. Can anyone imagine a Garda Commissioner musing about a change of mind-set in thieves or drug-pushers?
Nor is it practicable for the Commissioner to act as a one-man patrol (apparently he stopped two cars for speeding on his way to Galway), even if it provides an opportunity for wisecracks at conferences. But then, isn't that what the official attitude to this tragic situation is - just a joke? - Yours, etc., Cecilia McGovern
Wellington Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.