shnaek said:
Well said! Seems to me that the priority in this country is to be SEEN to be doing something about a problem (such as road carnage) rather than actually achieving anything - and speeding is a perfect example. Lets examine why speeding has been identified as suitable for a "crackdown". Is it because speeding is responsible for the greatest number of fatalities. No, that would be alcohol. Now we COULD sort out that one very easily by stationing a Garda checkpoint 50 yards up from the exit of every pub car-park. But sure the publicans would go mad. And do you know how many publicans are TDs? So, that's a non-runner then.
Or we could introduce "drivers education" into the school curriculum. Like they do in the US. Get 'em while they're young. Inculcate a sense of respect for the motor vehicle and what it is capable of. Good driving = good citizenship. But, no, sure that'd cost loads of money. And the PDs would go mad. Sorry, another non-runner.
Or we could insist that the hundreds of thousands of "provisional" licence holders either pass the test or lose their right to travel unaccompanied (by a licence holder) After all, if FAILING your test entitles you to drive legally and unaccompanied, why bother? But, that's all fine in theory, but take my wife's sister now, a perfect driver, never had an accident, but just gets too nervous to pass the test. Shaking with nerves she was. And the testers are so unfair anyway to .........(insert choice of: pretty women, plain women, men, young drivers, old drivers, townies, culchies, etc) And she NEEDS the car. Ah well, that settles it then; can't do that either.
Well, hang on, we actually know where accidents occur......... Why not analyse the statistics, ferret out the accident blackspots and systematically implement a two pronged strategy of road improvements AND road traffic law enforcement of such offences as tailgating, dangerous overtaking, inappropriate speed. Hmmmm, that might work. OK, a bit of effort would be required. And a bit of money. But it'd be worth it. Hang on, sorry. It's the money thing again, it'd cost a fortune, really. Sure McDowell'd have a fit. If people got used to that sort of thing, they might actually demand higher taxes to pay for socially desirable ends. No, no, NO - that's just one step away from communism, so it is! We'll have none of that sort of thing here!
So, what's to be done. Our "solution" to the problem of road carnage needs to be:
cheap
easy
quick to implement
capable of generating impressive "results" that ministers can bask in.
Now, let's see....... Aha, I have a cunning plan. Lets buy lots of (relatively cheap) laser guns. Give them to the Gardai. Then find the safest, widest, straightest, best surfaced roads in the country. The sort of roads with statistically fewest fatalities but never mind that ould sort of detail. Wait for a nice dry day. (Well, you wouldn't want to send the Guards out on a wet day, now would you?) Pick a suitable downhill stretch (cars tend to speed up) and position said Guards and laser guns. Shoot fish in barrel. Minimal cost, minimal effort, huge return. Announce "success" of crackdown campaign in terms of "offences" detected, fines issued, (lets leave the matter of inefficient fine collection for another day, shall we?) penalty points awarded. With a bit of luck, the Minister and the Garda Commissioner will get their pictures in the paper. Everyone will be happy. Problem solved.
What do you mean, it's been tried. Don't believe you for a minute. Ah no, they couldn't have been that cynical. Sure I was only joking - it's a mad idea. You mean they've been doing it for the LAST TWO YEARS. Wow. Maybe it DOES work. Well, what with that AND advances in vehicle safety AND somewhat improved roads, surely road deaths must have plummeted. Well, at least a modest decline? No? YOU MEAN ALL THAT AND ROAD DEATHS ARE INCREASING. Back to the drawing board..........