Sir, - The recent outcry over the carnage on our roads has abated, yet road deaths are still occurring at the rate of one a day. Most of the deaths are due to speeding, so it is blatantly obvious that governors which regulate the speed of cars are now a necessary safety device. These are already a reality on thousands of cars in Japan, where they are seen to be saving lives.
Motor companies should be responsible for installing them on all new vehicles, like any other safety device, and they should also be responsible for retro-fitting the required devices to existing cars. It is high time to end the macho culture of selling cars on the basis of high horse-power, with top speeds of over twice the legal limit.
The speed limit on motorways is 70 mph, and this is the logical setting for these governors if we are to be rigorous and consistent. Acceleration from 40 to 70 mph is then the most important criterion to ensure safe overtaking.
It is obvious that the motor industry will not add these safety devices unless they are compelled to do so by legislation. So, until we are governed more wisely by the people we elect to govern us, we will continue to wring our hands and count the corpses. - Yours, etc., John Gilmore,
Dundalk Institute of Technology, Co Louth.