Driving

[finlma]

There was an accident in Galway a few years ago cause some old lad who'd never seen a roundabout in his life came into the city. After missing his exit he decided to stop the car and reverse - suprisingly a car drove into the back of him.
People over the age of 65 should have to re-sit an exam every couple of years. A lot of old people are liabilites on the road.

[pete]

I drive like the fires of hell are following me. But I don't tailgate, I don't overtake on solid whites, I don't double-overtake (unless the moron in front pulls out without indicating), and I don't overtake on bends -- although I will overtake a stream of 2, 5 or 10 cars if the opportunity presents itself, because my car is capable of that (some people seem to think this is wrong, because they don't understand cars).

I don't have a problem with speed, and I think - I know, because I've seen statistics that prove it - that the "speed kills" campaign is an outright lie.

Speed doesn't kill, bad driving does.

For the most part i agree with that.

I wouldn't overtake 10 cars but see no problem with 3 or 4 on straight road. I drove Cork-Dublin yesterday & averaged 70 on main road (more like 65mph as speedometers as set with buffer) & 80mph on motorway. I saw 1 speed "trap" on Cashel Bypass.

In my experience road markings are shocking in this country. I've seen straight roads with no side roads with straight white line & then vroken white line on corners.

Inappropriate speed kills. Just because sign says 100kph does not mean road is suitable for that speed.

Why do irish side roads not have road markings? Why are only the last 50metres at end of road marked???

[drinkfeckarse]

There are bad drivers everywhere but having driven in Scotland, England and back home, may I categorise (hopefully without offending anyone) that Irish drivers are the worst of the lot of them IMHO and seem to take stupidity to new levels everytime I'm home.

[dahamsta]

I did not categorize again, I merely took a number of points you made about speed and your driving and came to an initial opinion that you could be displaying a certain level of overconfidence about your skills on the road keeping you safe! That is not categorization.

I disagree, I think you're categorising me as a bad driver based on a poor understanding of my post. However maybe the following has a bearing...

We held onto the point about overtaking 10 cars because its a fairly relevant point when assessing your attitude to driving on the roads. I am emotional about this.

Pete's post made it clear to me that we may be at cross-purposes on this particular point, and on another too; athough again, I don't believe it was my writing that was at fault, I believe it was your reading and rushing to respond with righteous indignation. Sorry to be blunt Gareth, but I genuinely think you're letting your anger rule here.

First of all, I doubt I've ever overtaken 10 cars in one full run; although I'd guess I may have overtaken close to that number, in a convoy, on a very straight road, in the dry, with no traffic coming in the opposite direction. I have, however, overtaken 10 - or more - cars in several spurts. To me, this is one overtaking maneuver, and it's what I would expect someone to understand I was suggesting.

On the subject of double-overtaking, I would never, ever intentionally double-overtake, and I think I was pretty clear that it has only happened to me when someone pulls out into my driving line while I'm in the process of overtaking. I find myself having to flash before overtaking increasingly these days specifically because of this issue; I never had to do that before.

This is not related to the length of the overtaking maneuver, it happens in all sorts of situations, and it's 100% the fault of the other person for very simply not checking their mirrors before pulling out. Bad driving. Extremely bad driving.

My point initially is why not just adhere to speed limits and drive sensibly

I do drive sensibly, more sensibly than most. And you're propogating a state-sponsored myth by suggesting that speeding isn't driving sensibly. I can't point to it directly but Google should find the recent study in the UK that specifically found that speeding is not the cause of the majority of accidents over there; as their Government, and ours, have lied about.

rather than driving like a racing driver?

If you can't see that you're categorising now, it's not worth replying to me, and please don't. A racing driver? Please.

Surely that 15 minutes earlier you arrive is not worth the risks attached?

Time has nothing to do with. I drive at the speed I feel comfortable with.

adam

[sligoman]

People over the age of 65 should have to re-sit an exam every couple of years. A lot of old people are liabilites on the road.

I have always said that. Even from 60 up would be good. I've seen people with walking sticks that can barely move getting in behind the wheel of a car. Then, when they make a mistake driving they just look at you as if they haven't noticed anything. It's disgracful.

[dahamsta]

Are you sure they don't? I thought they had to, remember the mother talking about it.

[tiktok]

I don't believe it was my writing that was at fault, I believe it was your reading and rushing to respond with righteous indignation.

And I'm the one accused of being condescending?

I will overtake a stream of 2, 5 or 10 cars if the opportunity presents itself, because my car is capable of that.

First of all, I doubt I've ever overtaken 10 cars in one full run; although I'd guess I may have overtaken close to that number, in a convoy, on a very straight road, in the dry, with no traffic coming in the opposite direction. I have, however, overtaken 10 - or more - cars in several spurts. To me, this is one overtaking maneuver, and it's what I would expect someone to understand I was suggesting.

Two completely different points adam, and it is your writing that's at fault.
If you overtake ten cars pulling in after every one (or two) then that is a series of overtaking manoeuvers, you can't expect people to be mindreaders. I'm glad to hear that it was a misunderstanding though, sounds like you might be around a bit longer than I originally thought.

[Gareth]

Adam, frankly your post is far more condescending than anything I have written. But no harm, I respect your right to an opinion, but can you please put up the assumptions we need to make whilst reading them in future? .

[sligoman]

Are you sure they don't? I thought they had to, remember the mother talking about it.

Not that I know of, maybe they do. Anyone know any senior citizen drivers they could ask?

[Gareth]

My mam and dad are 64 and they haven't needed to.

[Gareth]

Plus adam I have no problem with overtaking when you need to within speed limits and safe conditions but I believe it should be done on a car by car basis. Your original point clearly stated 10 cars. After starting that move, you are adding risk by the second. Thats why one car is fine but after 5 or 6 cars the situation is far more risky. Even second on the wrong side of the road is adding to the risk. That was why I was up in arms at you. Its totally different saying 10 cars, one at a time Adam.

[dahamsta]

Adam, frankly your post is far more condescending than anything I have written.

It probably was. I tend to put less effort into reasonable conversation when I see silliness like the racing driver bit.

But no harm, I respect your right to an opinion, but can you please put up the assumptions we need to make whilst reading them in future? .

I'll certain dumb down my points in future Gareth! (I'm just trolling now. Ignore me.)

To get back to the subject, I don't believe overtaking should strictly be done on a car-by-car basis, if that's what you're suggesting. Road conditions and the like should define what's safe and what's not. Which is kind of the point I was trying to make right from the beginning.

adam

[the 12 th man]

My mam and dad are 64 and they haven't needed to.

Afaik there is no upper age limit but I think you have to prove your eyesight after a certain age to retain your licence.

My Pop is 79 & still driving.

[pete]

I would gladly agree to driving tests every 10 years if it was applied across the board.

Only when the driving laws are aactually applied & roads property constructed can we access the standard of irish driving.

- People driving who never sat a driving test
- People driving on provisionals who have FAILED their test i.e. not good enough to pass minimum standards. Foreigners can never understand that one.
- Proper road markings & signage.
- Crash barriers around poles, trees, walls etc...
- Policing on danerous roads not turkey shoots on motorways.
- Penalty points for things other than speeding (afaik legislation is finished so how many more years will we be waiting to be implemented?)

45 mph in 30mph zone is a lot more dangerous than 90mph on 75mph limit motorway.

BTW government should just hire more driving testers - if current lot don't like it & strike then sack them!

[Gareth]

I'll certain dumb down my points in future Gareth! (I'm just trolling now. Ignore me.)

Rude fvcker

[Metrostars]

After being a former speed demon on the roads on Galway when I first learned to drive, I now hate the thought of driving back there whenever I return from the US. Dahamsta is right to a certain extent when he says the slogan Speed Kills is incorrect but Ireland doesnt have the roads to drive fast. The problem is that too many nutcases like when I was young drive crazy on the poor roads in Ireland. It's fine going 70-90mph on a motorway where there's plenty of room but not on a narrow two lane road with lots of bends.

[dahamsta]

I would gladly agree to driving tests every 10 years if it was applied across the board.

So would I, but there's no point in even touching that idea until we can get the existing testing system working. They've had how many years to fix it? I think I'd find it hard not to learn lessons in that time, but this government - and every other government - seems to excel in keeping it exactly the same. Exactly the same mess.

It's a perfect example of cross-party, non-partisan... incompetence.

Rude fvcker

Have we not crossed swords before Gareth?

Dahamsta is right to a certain extent when he says the slogan Speed Kills is incorrect but Ireland doesnt have the roads to drive fast.

If we're talking in general, across the board, then yes, that's true. However Irish people do often make the mistake of suggesting or accepting that all Irish roads are bad, when of course they're not. They're not up to European standards and unfortunately we have to jump between the good sections - which is ridiculous - but they're there.

Waterford in particular had wonderful roads a few years back -- it was embarrassing crossing the bridge into or out of Youghal, because the roads in Cork were like badly-baked Polo biscuits in comparison. I'm told they're not so good any more, haven't been down there in a while.

The problem is that too many nutcases like when I was young drive crazy on the poor roads in Ireland.

This is the thing though, it's the nutcases at fault, not people that want to drive fast. Sure, they're both breaking the law, but I'll take an attentive speeder over every single one of those idiots that flies around the West anyday. (I'd add that it's not just young 'uns either, whenever I go down that way I nearly get blown out of it, because they won't surrender any of the road. I'm speaking very generally now myself, but it's just an observation.)

adam

[dfx-]

I don't have a problem with speed, and I think - I know, because I've seen statistics that prove it - that the "speed kills" campaign is an outright lie.

Speed doesn't kill, bad driving does.

Q. E. D.

[Gareth]

Have we not crossed swords before Gareth?

Possibly so, but its so much fun, however now you will probably run me over

[dfx-]

This is the thing though, it's the nutcases at fault, not people that want to drive fast. Sure, they're both breaking the law, but I'll take an attentive speeder over every single one of those idiots that flies around the West anyday.

QED the second....