Uninsured motorists
Madam Editor
Having learned through recent media reports the national crisis that exists on our country roads regarding uninsured drivers, I would have found the statistics difficult to believe until I was involved in an incident with one such driver. Last year while returning home from Tubbercurry on a road I have travelled all my life I was unfortunate to meet an uninsured driver on a well marked bend where several drivers have crossed the ditch over the years. Road conditions were good but the bend in question was very icy as it is shaded by trees. As I exited the bend very slowly followed by another vehicle a car approached from the other direction and obviously braked and skidded into my car pushing it into the ditch where it hit a chevron sign doing serious damage to both vehicles. Thankfully nobody was injured. The disturbing fact is that the driver said she had insurance which turned out to be a lie. The car did not have road tax either. The driver said she travelled to Sligo daily. This prompts me to ask why do any of us pay road tax and insurance? Reports on court cases indicate that the fines for such offenders are often as little as € 300. In that case if you escape without paying for a year you are financially ahead and I believe that those drivers who drive without insurance do so as long as they get away with it. The result of this incident is as follows, a perfectly good vehicle which was an essential for its owner’s occupation and always tested, taxed and insured is now written off. Somewhere along the way the legal system is failing those who comply. I have been driving for 44 years both in England and Ireland on everything from Motorways to country lanes in both countries without a scratch of even a parking ticket. Our cars are always taxed and insured costing a fortune and in my own parish in rural Ireland I meet with what I can only describe as an irresponsible driver with no regard for other road users or herself. That incident could very well have been a far more serious accident. There must be a means to prevent this type of situation where those who comply are those who pay for all. I know lack of resources will be the reason given but the tax collected and adequate fines would help to fund a system to make our roads a safer place. A driver without insurance can not get road tax so automatic disqualification should apply. It is time for a change Yours Respectfully Name and Address with the Editor