Sir, - At the heart of the debate concerning road collisions and deaths is the matter of excessive speed. Many drivers who are otherwise moral people will not control their speed, and this is a mystery. I suspect that it is ignorance of the stark reality concerning speed which lulls people into a false sense of security. May I contribute to the debate by sharing some chastening facts which were drawn to my attention while studying for two advanced driving institutions in the UK?
For example, at the very modest speed of 30 m.p.h., a vehicle is moving at the rate of 44 feet per second. From the instant a hazard appears it will take the average person three-quarters of a second before the message reaches the feet. In that time the car will have travelled 33 feet, like a missile out of control. That 33 feet out of control may be increased depending on weather conditions, condition of the road surface and tyres, and the efficiency of the braking system. This also assumes that the driver is concentrating well and is free of drugs, and not having a phone conversation. If a crash occurs kinetic energy takes over and we may be shot through the windscreen - like a cannonball.
If we apply these figures to much higher speeds, it will be clear that all of us who drive cars are potentially not in control of the car as we drive for a significant period of time. Although I have well over a million accident-free miles behind me, contemplation of the reality of what I am about certainly helps to keep me in check. I suggest that everybody who drives on our roads should think on these things. - Yours, etc.,
Douglas McCowen,
Templeville Road, Dublin 6W.