YOUR SAY: Tragedy on roads

IT IS tragic that two young girls, Stacy Haugh, 16, and Lorna O'Mahony died in a car driven by a 15-year-old boy.

My thoughts and sympathy are with all of the families involved.

But there is problem with children and cars that needs to be addressed.

Many children engage in so-called joyriding and they simply see it as a bit of a lark.

But speaking as a resident of an estate where such 'joyriding' is endemic I have a different view.

The taking of the car is illegal, as is the driving of a car without a licence or insurance. This makes them criminals.

The vehicle theft causes the owner distress, inconvenience, higher insurance premiums, the probable loss of personal items and, usually, the destruction of the car.

On my estate children pack themselves into the stolen cars and career around the streets at high speed, often playing 'chicken' or a sort of car tag with other joyriders.

They are driving too fast, are barely in control and a danger to pedestrians, other road users and parked cars.

And it isn't a problem confined to us either. I was up in Belfast one night, staying on the Shore Road.

Imagine my amazement to see three cars screeching up and down the road and doing handbrake turns for 30 or so minutes - right outside a police station.

Did any officers try and investigate? The sad answer is no.

My friend said it often happened.

J Jackson

Dublin

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