From the health point of view we are living in a marvellous age. We are practically immunised from birth against many of the most dangerous diseases. A large number of once fatal illnesses can now be cured by modern drugs and surgery. It is more than certain that one day remedies will be found for the most stubborn remaining diseases. The expectation of life has increased enormously. But though the possibility of living a long and happy life is greater than ever before, every day in Cyprus we witness the incredible slaughter of men , women and children on the roads. Man versus the motor car ! It is a never-ending battle which man is losing. In Cyprus, hundreds of people are killed or horribly mutilated each year and we are quietly sitting back and letting it happen.

It has been rightly said that when a man is sitting behind a steering wheel, his car becomes the extension of his personality. There is no doubt that the motor-car often brings out a man's very worst qualities. People who are normally quiet and pleasant may become unrecognisable when they are behind a steering-wheel. They swear, they are ill-mannered and aggressive, wilful as two-year olds and utterly selfish. All their hidden frustrations, disappointments and jealousies seem to be brought to the surface by the act of driving.

The surprising thing - at least in Cyprus - is that society smiles so benignly on the motorist and seems to condone his behaviour. Everything is done for his convenience! Cities are allowed to become almost uninhabitable because of heavy traffic; towns are made ugly by huge car parks; the countryside is desecrated by road networks; and the mass annual slaughter becomes nothing more than a statistic, to be conveniently forgotten in the course of time.

It is high time a world code were created to reduce this senseless waste of human life. With regard to driving, the laws of some countries are notoriously lax and even the strictest are not strict enough. A code which would be universally accepted could only have a dramatically beneficial effect on the accident rate. Here are a few examples of some of the things that might be done:

- The driving test should be standardised and made far more difficult than it actually is

- All drivers should be made to take a new driving test every 3 years or so

- The age at which young people are allowed to drive any vehicle should be raised to at least 21

- All vehicles - even the brand new - should be put through stingent annual tests for safety

- Even the smallest amount of alcohol in the blood can impair a person's driving ability. The alcotest , therefore, should prohibit even the slightest amount of alcohol. i like to drink when I go out ... but I never drive !! Thank God , we have many taxis !!! If you drink don't drive or if you drive don't drink - not even a pint of beer!

- Maximum and minimum speed limits ahould be imposed ON ALL ROADS ---including the city centre

- All advertising stressing power and performance should be banned for all manufacturers

- The elderly should not be allowed to drive after the age of 65... It could go hand in hand with retirement

These measures may sound inordinately harsh, but surely nothing should be considered as too severe if it results in reducing the annual toll of human lives on the roads ! Especially in Cyprus !