No rewards for good drivers
Wednesday March 05 2008
I would like to concur with the sentiments expressed by David Johns ('Speed and Loathing on Road to Mullingar' Letters, March 4). From reading the letter, it is clear he was doing the right thing throughout his recent road journey (driving at the speed limit), but that the behaviour of others was, to say the least, less than impressive. His letter raises some interesting questions.
Firstly, where is the reward for being a good driver? By reward, I mean seeing speed maniacs getting stopped. Many, many times I have been doing the limit on a dual carriageway or motorway and been passed by someone doing 20 or 30kph more, only for a garda traffic corps car to pass a few seconds later. I have never seen the gardai put on the flashing lights and pull someone over on a main road. Ever.
I have come to the firm conclusion that it is safer to get by through ignoring the speed limits. Safe driving (in the applied, not theoretical sense) means fitting in with the speed of other traffic.
As the vast majority of Irish motorists hold speed limits in contempt, it is dangerous to obey the speed limits.
When I was learning to drive, I was warned of the dangers of impeding traffic and generally being out of step with other motorists' speed. As our 100kph zones are really 120kph, and motorways are anything you like (not to mention the 80kph+ towns which are supposed to be 50kph), who, in real terms is the danger? Me! I am impeding the progress of the majority who wish to break the speed limits.
Many van/truck drivers are bullies, too. I cannot count the amount of times I have had a truck (which can't stop quickly) hanging inches from my rear bumper through towns. The same goes for "white van man". Both trying to get me to go faster, and the same applies to many car drivers. I would feel a lot better about putting up with this -- dangerous as it is -- if I thought that, once in a while, I might see someone getting stopped and penalised for doing it.
Anthony Halpin
Bray,
Co Wicklow
