Sir, - There has been a much publicised spate of traffic fatalities and many commentators have asked for a more stringent police clamp down on speeding. This by its nature will have a limited impact.
I recently came across what would be a formidable deterrent to speeding whilst allowing the driver the freedom to accelerate out of danger or to overtake. At the maximum permitted speed, i.e. 70 m.p.h., a high pitched beep goes off. If this speed is maintained for greater than, say, 10 seconds the beeper goes off again and continues to go off. If speeds of greater than, say, 80 m.p.h. are maintained, the pitch and the volume of the beeper get progressively greater. These beepers could be installed in all new or imported cars. It would become too annoying to speed. Otherwise, being only human, we'll still take the chance that the police won't be there to catch us.
Having worked in a busy casualty department, I have seen too many deaths from speeding. - Yours, etc.,
Islandbridge, Dublin 8.