Try as we must, we cannot protect young people from all the dangers they encounter in life. Nor can we stop them from taking risks, imbued as they are with daring curiousity and a sense of invulnerability. What we can and must do is constantly remind young people – indeed, everyone – to take extra precautions against the risks they encounter.

In motor sports, that lesson is hammered home with each accident and the weekend fatality involving a young Tyrone man provided another forceful reminder that fast cars pose huge dangers. They must always be treated with the respect they deserve.

Yet the death of Strabane rally enthusiast Richard McGrath was as unforeseen as it was tragic. It happened despite the best efforts of the Donegal Rally organisers and it was but one of an unfortunate number of road deaths we record on any weekend. Unless we ban motor vehicles, we will not prevent motor deaths. So banning motor sports, as proposed by Strabane's Fr O'Hagan, would probably just drive them underground into an uncontrolled environment.

Instead, we must find safe ways to satisfy the penchant of young men – and women – for the sound and speed of combustion engine vehicles. The array of motor sports – Formula One, stock cars, motorbike racing (track and road) and saloon car racing – is an indication of the pervasive attraction of petrol-driven pastimes. And given the huge involvement by local people in motor sports, both as participants and spectators, the wonder is that there are so few fatalities or serious injuries. Indeed, they happen so seldom they are remarkable. Last year, for instance, this region hosted the Ireland stage of the World Rally Championship and it was a resounding success. That is because those involved in organising and marshalling the high-speed vehicles – as well as the hordes of visiting spectators – devoted thought, time and effort to the task. Care to detail ensures safety and those involved in motor sports must never slacken efforts to ensure all precautions are taken.

A death at a rally event is so rare an occurrence, thank goodness, that the alternative is worse. For by denying a controlled outlet for speed, the risks on our roads would surely be even worse.