Let’s tackle road carnage

That crash which left five young lads dead  and two women and a child with serious injuries was simply the latest and most horrible incident on the road-crashes list. Every year, as sure as day follows night, despite all warnings, dozens of people will die on the roads. Last year it was 56 in the North and 185 in the South. Can nothing be done? Well, nothing has been done that really keeps slaughter numbers down.

So here are a few modest proposals.

1. Design all cars so that they’re capable of being driven only to the speed limit of our motorways. That won’t of course eliminate all deaths, but we do know that speeding frequently plays a part. Don’t leave it to the driver – make the car incapable of speeding. You wouldn’t like that? Well fuddle duddle. We’re talking lives here.
2. Many crashes happen with one of the vehicles having been stolen. Simples. You know how you can’t get into your phone if you don’t have a code of half a dozen numbers? Do the same with cars. It’s hardly moon-rocket science.
3. Have all cars with a built-in capability assessor – in other words, you’ll not be able to get the car going if it sense you’ve a load of drink or drugs or fatigue weighing you down. Again, car manufacturers could easily build ithe technology into all their vehicles.
4. You know those speed notices you sometimes get when road-works are going on? I’m talking about the ones with the green smiley face if you’re within the speed limit, a sad red face if you’re not.  It’s amazing how many of us  respond to that signal – maybe because it’s a public sign and everyone can see what  you’re doing – including you. Have one of those roughly every mile. It shouldn’t be too expensive to install, and besides, what price a human life?

There are others I’m sure you could come up with as well, but we could make a start with one or two or all of the above. And don’t say we  don’t need to go to all that bother. This is a matter of life and death.