Sir, – Kathy Sheridan recalls the reaction to the OPEC-induced rise in oil prices following the 1973 Arab-Israeli Yom Kippur war ( "Our demand for oil props up murderous autocrats", Opinion, March 16th).
The US federal government instituted a maximum speed limit of 55mph. It also made state receipt of certain federal funds contingent on their adopting some form of a “right turn on red” law, ie, not to treat a red traffic light as a stop sign when turning right. This was intended to reduce the time cars spent idling at red traffic lights, though several states already did this to reduce congestion and increase driver convenience.
The Irish Government should consider lower speed limits and permit “left turn on red”. It should also switch red-green signals to flashing amber lights at intersections at times when there is predictably little traffic. The primary motivation should be to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But the fact that so much oil revenue flows to aggressive autocrats and to some extremely rich men is an additional reason for action. – Yours, etc,
TIMOTHY KING,
Killiney,
Co Dublin.