Madam, - Mr Paul Kennan (September 29th) rejects claims made by Feargal Quinn (Opinion, September 25th) and Fintan O'Toole (Features, September 27th) where they have "suggested that drivers initially slowed down following the introduction of penalty points but have since reverted to their previous speedy habits due to lack of enforcement of speed limits".
Mr Kennan concludes his letter by asking: "Could we please have some relevant empirical data before any more conclusions are drawn?"
Perhaps Mr Kennan should avail of my method in collecting the "empirical data" in question. In my frequent travels I adhere strictly to the posted speed limits on various national and secondary routes. My experience has revealed that for every car I overtake (within the speed limit), about 20 cars overtake my car at speed. Furthermore, I haven't observed a single incident of a garda issuing an on-the-spot fine in the past year.
"Relevant empirical data", poppycock! It doesn't take a rocket scientist to conclude, by simple "observation" that the lack of enthusiastic enforcement gives tacit acknowledgement to the majority of Irish drivers that exceeding the posted limit with impunity is culturally acceptable. - Yours, etc.,
EDWARD D. RAFFERTY, Castlebridge, Co Wexford.