CAL HYLAND,
Madam, - Further to Charles Bagwell's letter of January 20th, could we also be asssured that there will be zero tolerance for drivers leading convoys at rates under the speed limits?
Road safety experts do not refer to speed as a constituent of accidents; they refer to traffic friction. Countries with greater safety records than ours (and that includes the rest of Europe except Greece, I believe) apply brands of varying widths plus or minus. In a 60 m.p.h. zone, 25 m.p.h. is as dangerous as 85 m.p.h. On freeways in most US cities, with a 55 m.p.h. limit, you will be ticketed for going under 45 and over 65. In Britain, if a slow vehicle attracts a following of (if I remember correctly) more than 10 vehicles, it must pull aside and stop to let them overtake.
These are means to road safety rather than revenue.
With the latter in mind, there are two areas local to me where there are frequent speed traps at an apparently arbitrary speed limit. I have written to both the Garda and the Cork County Council road safety officer suggesting either the placement of a roundabout or (for revenue) a toll-gate. Neither has responded. - Yours, etc.,
CAL HYLAND,
Rosscarbery,
Co Cork.