The penalty points system, introduced a month ago, is having "an extraordinary effect" on driver behaviour, according to the Automobile Association.
"The early indications are that this is having an exceptionally beneficial effect on driver behaviour," said Mr Conor Faughnan, AA public affairs manager.
He said he had received an abundance of anecdotal evidence that drivers were travelling much slower since the scheme came into operation on October 31st. He believed speeding detections were reduced by up to 25 per cent during November, although the official figures have not yet been published.
The latest road death statistics show a significant drop in deaths since the penalty points were introduced.
Some 22 people were killed in road accidents during November compared with 31 people in October and 40 people in the previous November. To date, 357 people have been killed on the roads this year, compared with 411 for the whole of 2001.
While welcoming these figures, Mr Faughnan said it was important not to extrapolate too much from a relatively small statistic.
The National Safety Council also said that the penalty points system was making a clear difference to driver behaviour and drivers were reducing their speed.
Preliminary figures on the number of motorists who have received penalty points are expected to be released within the next week or so, according to the Garda Press Office.
A Garda spokesman would not be drawn on the number of people who received penalty points in the first month of operation, or if any motorist had already received the maximum 12 points, and would therefore be disqualified for six months.
The Irish Times is aware of one case where a driver received four points in the first two weeks of the new regime.
Mr Faughnan said he knew of one case where a driver received penalty points just six hours into the new regime.
Mr Faughnan said he was concerned that the dramatic improvment in driver behaviour might be explained by the "honeymoon period", but said he hoped drivers would not lapse into old habits.
When a speeding offence is detected under the new regime, the Garda issues an €80 fine but also sends the details to the Department of the Environment's vehicle registration office in Shannon.
Two penalty points are applied to the licence and the driver is notified of this. If the €80 fine is not paid within 28 days, it increases to €120. If it is not paid within 56 days, legal action is initiated.
The penalty points system was first promised by the Government five years ago. In October, it was announced that only the anti-speeding provisions of the scheme would be introduced this year.
The remainder of the provisions, covering 61 other offences, will be introduced next year.
