Sir, - As a friend of Arlene Wellbourne and her lovely husband Chris, I appreciated the comments (An Irishman's Diary July, 21st), which highlighted the tragedies that have become increasingly common on our roads.
Roads are merely paths that allow us to travel from A to B in comfort. They belong to no-one, not the pedestrians, or the cyclists or the drivers who use them. Some drivers seem bent on winning a race that is going on in their own heads. They have to overtake everything in front of them and even then they act as if they believe the road may disappear if they don't get to it in time. These people have no respect for others. Laws and rules, speed limits and licences are all very well, but in the absence of respect, what use are they?
I recently moved out of Dublin because I got sick of taking my life in my hands on the Naas dual carriageway every morning and evening. People have lost respect for others on the road, and because of that we have lost a wonderful friend. - Yours, etc.,
Sile O'Connor, Ballinasloe, Co Galway.