There is a poll in today’s Irish Times where they pose the question “Do you think the State is doing enough to cut road deaths?”

I am delighted to see that [at the time of writing] that the majority are saying “Yes”.

It’s about time that the Irish realised that legislation is NOT the answer, and that it is really none of the State’s fucking business.

Of course this is all in response to that terrible accident on Sunday night where eight people were killed.

That accident was not one that could have been prevented with legislation.  I would hazard a guess that it was caused by one simple thing – testosterone.

Let’s look at the facts.

Car A is a Volkswagon Passat, a car designed for five passengers.  In fact it contained eight young men ranging in age from 19 to 23.

Car B is a Renault Mégane driven by a woman.

Car C is a Toyota Corolla driven by a 66 year old man.

Car A collided with Car B before smashing into Car C.  Conclusion?  Car A is at fault.

The fact that Car A contained eight young adults when it was designed for five, speaks volumes.  There were eight young lads who were apparently going home after watching the World Cup final.  Conclusion?  Whether there was drink involved or not, these lads were fired up and driving a fairly powerful car and doing what young lads always do – messing.

Of course I can pretty much guarantee that the cause of the accident will go down as ‘speed’, and Gay Byrne will be running a new fucking campaign urging us all to slow down.  One of these years the Road Safety Authority will get it into their thick fucking skulls that speed does not kill.  Bad driving kills.  Messing behind the wheel kills.  Not taking account of road condition kills.  Reckless driving kills.  Speed in itself doesn’t do anything except give the Nanny State a chance to clean out our wallets.

I have a good mind to get in a double-decker bus and run Gay Byrne over at ten miles an hour.

That should prove my point.