Discussion
Coming towards the end of a near 2,500 trip around NI & Eire.
What is surprising is how pish poor Irish drivers are in general. I would even go as far to say that Mrs V. is a better driver than most of them! (And that really is reaching for the dregs).
Some observations:
(1) HGV/Truck Drivers - very very good and will pull over in hard shoulder lanes to allow overtaking
(2) Tractor Drivers - again helpful and pull over
(3) Anyone over 60 drives at an indicated 40mph (or kmh equivalent) which in real terms is low 30's. Never looks at the 100 drivers queuing behind them. Unreasonably slow in manoeuvres.
(4) Women drivers - see (3) above. If they are under 35 years of age they will have a mobile glued to their ear.
(5) White van drivers - complete psychopaths - ace to follow though.
What is surprising is how pish poor Irish drivers are in general. I would even go as far to say that Mrs V. is a better driver than most of them! (And that really is reaching for the dregs).
Some observations:
(1) HGV/Truck Drivers - very very good and will pull over in hard shoulder lanes to allow overtaking
(2) Tractor Drivers - again helpful and pull over
(3) Anyone over 60 drives at an indicated 40mph (or kmh equivalent) which in real terms is low 30's. Never looks at the 100 drivers queuing behind them. Unreasonably slow in manoeuvres.
(4) Women drivers - see (3) above. If they are under 35 years of age they will have a mobile glued to their ear.
(5) White van drivers - complete psychopaths - ace to follow though.
Driving standards are particularly poor over here in Ireland, with a noticeable difference compared even to the roads in England. Zero lane discipline, too much phone use, poor indication, etc. And yet the government here is obsessed with speed, despite the fact that we've probably got the slowest drivers of nearly any country
Another problem is that motorways and roundabouts are actually relatively new additions here, and the vast majority of drivers haven't the first clue how to use them properly
Another problem is that motorways and roundabouts are actually relatively new additions here, and the vast majority of drivers haven't the first clue how to use them properly
Catatafish said:
Sounds much like anywhere else.
Racist rant needs more bile. 3/10
Nope, drivers from the Republic of Ireland in general display pretty effing appalling driving ability.Racist rant needs more bile. 3/10
A big problem is that you used to be able to get out on in a car on your own, in L-Plates (pretty sure they reformed it).
This came about because the Irish driving test system was so shagged that it was entirely possible you wouldn't get an appointment within the period of your provisional license so legislation was passed to allow you to drive on your second provisional license, on your own. The theory was that people who had been driving a few years on their first provisional license should have a bit of leeway to get around. If you went to a third provisional you were supposed to revert back to being accompanied by a person with a full license as to get it you had to have taken a test (which logically you would have to have failed if you were still wanting a provisional license) in order to be eligible for the third.
Being Ireland, everyone ignored the parts of the legislation they didn't like and as soon as you got your provisional license you got a cheap banger (there also didn't used to be anything like an MOT) and out onto the roads on your own. The Garda (police) didn't seem at all interested in enforcing it so there were loads of people driving around who never passed (in some cases never even took) a driving test.
Result - utterly, utterly awful driving standards as few people bothered with any sort of instruction, went out for years on a provisional license and made it up as they went along. Eventually they'd get through a driving test but by that stage the awful habits were ingrained.
I've driven hire cars across Ireland quite a few times (typically Dublin to Cork with clients along the way)
I must have been lucky each time, as the standard of driving was ok and no worse than in the UK. The roads actually had a lot less traffic than what I am used to.
OP, are you talking about city driving? Back roads? Motorways?
I must have been lucky each time, as the standard of driving was ok and no worse than in the UK. The roads actually had a lot less traffic than what I am used to.
OP, are you talking about city driving? Back roads? Motorways?
I can see what you mean about people going slow and bad driving. But I grew up on the west coast of Ireland and would like to argue some points.
The older people who live in the countryside do everything slowly. Try going to the post office or shop. If one older person is in front of you add half an hour to your time. Just a way of life.
Add to that the government stating that if you go 1kmph over the speed limit then you are a mass murderer.
On the backroads. It is not that everyone goes mad on the backroads. People just drive at the same speed they do on the A roads. The real problem is straightliners. People who go very slow on the back roads and on the first straight safe to use to overtake they go fast. Usually a Dublin reg car.
To be fair there are quite few accidents on these roads considering the condition they are in so would argue the drivers are better judges of the width of their cars and pay more attention tan drivers on motorways.
The older people who live in the countryside do everything slowly. Try going to the post office or shop. If one older person is in front of you add half an hour to your time. Just a way of life.
Add to that the government stating that if you go 1kmph over the speed limit then you are a mass murderer.
On the backroads. It is not that everyone goes mad on the backroads. People just drive at the same speed they do on the A roads. The real problem is straightliners. People who go very slow on the back roads and on the first straight safe to use to overtake they go fast. Usually a Dublin reg car.
To be fair there are quite few accidents on these roads considering the condition they are in so would argue the drivers are better judges of the width of their cars and pay more attention tan drivers on motorways.
kicks said:
I can see what you mean about people going slow and bad driving. But I grew up on the west coast of Ireland and would like to argue some points.
The older people who live in the countryside do everything slowly. Try going to the post office or shop. If one older person is in front of you add half an hour to your time. Just a way of life.
Add to that the government stating that if you go 1kmph over the speed limit then you are a mass murderer.
On the backroads. It is not that everyone goes mad on the backroads. People just drive at the same speed they do on the A roads. The real problem is straightliners. People who go very slow on the back roads and on the first straight safe to use to overtake they go fast. Usually a Dublin reg car.
To be fair there are quite few accidents on these roads considering the condition they are in so would argue the drivers are better judges of the width of their cars and pay more attention tan drivers on motorways.
Well now thats why we get great advertisements like this: http://youtu.be/MD8BkIgp9FoThe older people who live in the countryside do everything slowly. Try going to the post office or shop. If one older person is in front of you add half an hour to your time. Just a way of life.
Add to that the government stating that if you go 1kmph over the speed limit then you are a mass murderer.
On the backroads. It is not that everyone goes mad on the backroads. People just drive at the same speed they do on the A roads. The real problem is straightliners. People who go very slow on the back roads and on the first straight safe to use to overtake they go fast. Usually a Dublin reg car.
To be fair there are quite few accidents on these roads considering the condition they are in so would argue the drivers are better judges of the width of their cars and pay more attention tan drivers on motorways.
Edited by BugLebowski on Tuesday 5th August 22:18
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