Speed v's Death.
Discussion
On Nov. 1 a penalty points system for speeding was introduced in Ireland. It replaced a system that was a joke - €50.00 fine if caught speeding.
November 2001 death toll - 40.
November 2002 death toll - 22.
I have been of the opinion for years that stupidity causes more deaths than speed, based on the these figures I could still be right but not to the percentage I expected.
November 2001 death toll - 40.
November 2002 death toll - 22.
I have been of the opinion for years that stupidity causes more deaths than speed, based on the these figures I could still be right but not to the percentage I expected.
Just came back from a weekend visiting the parents in Ireland.
It struck me that people were driving a *lot* more slowly than I remember (even from a year ago). They were driving at or slightly below the speed limit virtually everywhere. In fact, the lack of "progress" reminded me of driving in the US as much as anything. Annoying as the roads are far better than they used to be. And I learned to drive in Ireland so I remember what it used to be like (that may just have been me though)!
Was this due to the new points scheme or has it been happening gradually? Will it wear off I wonder - I didn't see any police speed checks at all which I would have expected for a new scheme like the points / on the spot fines?
It struck me that people were driving a *lot* more slowly than I remember (even from a year ago). They were driving at or slightly below the speed limit virtually everywhere. In fact, the lack of "progress" reminded me of driving in the US as much as anything. Annoying as the roads are far better than they used to be. And I learned to drive in Ireland so I remember what it used to be like (that may just have been me though)!
Was this due to the new points scheme or has it been happening gradually? Will it wear off I wonder - I didn't see any police speed checks at all which I would have expected for a new scheme like the points / on the spot fines?
Traditionally, the Nov, Dec, & Jan figures tend to be higher than the rest of the year, but I know exactly what you mean by looking at figures in isolation, will dig out more data.
It appears that people have just slowed down, it may wear off in time but it is interesting. Speed checks are usually out of sight - gatso vans, hidden out of sight - one had a young guard jump out of a bush on a turn to stop me, it 'surprised' me so much I managed to stop (ahem) about a foot away from him - I don't think he did that again in a hurry because it frightened the shit outta him and I complained to his station that I almost killed him by accident because of his enthusiasm – age and treachery will always win over youth and enthusiasm
It appears that people have just slowed down, it may wear off in time but it is interesting. Speed checks are usually out of sight - gatso vans, hidden out of sight - one had a young guard jump out of a bush on a turn to stop me, it 'surprised' me so much I managed to stop (ahem) about a foot away from him - I don't think he did that again in a hurry because it frightened the shit outta him and I complained to his station that I almost killed him by accident because of his enthusiasm – age and treachery will always win over youth and enthusiasm
northernboy said: What is the standard deviation on Nov death figures over the years? If it is 1, then the scheme is a great success, if it is 30, then the numbers tell us nothing.
Quite right, for all we know the figures over the last 20 years might fluctuate randomly between 20 and 50. Looking at two figures in isolation doesn't tell anything at all. For one thing accidents have at least an element of bad luck involved so to analyse the impact of this policy you need to look at the general trend over time.
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