"More than 40 per cent of fatal accidents are due to excessive speed," says Pat Costello, chief executive officer of the National Safety Council. "What we need is a change of attitude and a change of behaviour."
Fines are a deterrent to speeding, he says, but the introduction of penalty points will have an even bigger impact. "Money is no longer the greatest deterrent; fear of losing your driving licence, a fear that gets greater the nearer you get to the points limit, is."
Some 320 people have died on our roads so far this year, he points out. "It's absolutely vital that drivers slow down. Even a small reduction in speed will save lives on our roads."
