Carnage On Our Roads

[dublin laddie]

Big improvements here in recent years on the plus side..... 41% drop in ten years,
more room for improvement,
The boy racer element needs to be targeted more for future success......

RT News: Ireland recognised for road deaths reduction

Ireland was recognised this afternoon for the substantial cuts in its road deaths since 2001.

The European Transport Safety Council presented Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey with its 2010 road safety award to acknowledge a 41% cut in road deaths.

Ireland currently ranks seventh out of 27 in road deaths per million inhabitants.

[Dirty Harry]

This is one the things that really struck me first when I came over. I still don't know how you can have a learners license, it simply doesn't make any sense to me at all. In my eyes, it is one of the biggest reasons why there are so many problems on the roads over here. Ban them, make it compulsory to have to have a full license and you will make it a much safer place. Alas, it'll never happen.

thats correct and right it is a big problem

[Doozer]

I have to agree with everything that has been said here. Bad roads and bad drivers. I was driving the other day at a roundabout and some idiot came on, the wrong way. This wasnt a young driver but a middle aged man. Also its not just the youngsters who drink and drive. Go to any auld fella pub in the country and count how many cars are in the parking lot

[Dirty Harry]

I have to agree with everything that has been said here. Bad roads and bad drivers. I was driving the other day at a roundabout and some idiot came on, the wrong way. This wasnt a young driver but a middle aged man. Also its not just the youngsters who drink and drive. Go to any auld fella pub in the country and count how many cars are in the parking lot

very true most of those old fellas didn't even do there driving test they just got there driving License by applying for it...that was some system not even having to do the driving test in the first place

[Paddii]

As a motorcyclist who uses the roads everyday, I know that at least part of the problem is that drivers simply do not pay attention. Some simple rules need to come into play:
1. set up the sterero before u leave
2. leave the sat nav alone
3. pull over to answer the phone
4. use indicators when turning or changing lanes
5. show a little courtesy on the road
6. if u want a drink, let someone else drive
7. observe the signs
8. it's not cool to cut up bikes, someone could get killed

the other week someone moved into my lane right beside me without indicating. I had nowhere to go except into the oncoming traffic. Despite my honking, on he came on anyway and I saw the irate face of the driver. I couldn't brake cos someone was up my ass, couldn't accelerate cos there was a car i front of me, so I kicked his mirror - he wasn't using the feckin thing anyway - and he went back. Don't know what was on his mind, but at the time I was convinced he was deliberately trying to kill me, as he could definitely see me!

[bhoywonder]

There are more motorways, dual carriageways and town/city by-passes, so speed increases.

actually most of these accidents still happen on secondary roads. altho we may be driving faster on these roads they are considerably safer to drive on then the old roads. as more and more of the new roads have opened the number of road deaths has decreased.

[bhoywonder]

As a motorcyclist who uses the roads everyday, I know that at least part of the problem is that drivers simply do not pay attention. Some simple rules need to come into play:
1. set up the sterero before u leave
2. leave the sat nav alone
3. pull over to answer the phone
4. use indicators when turning or changing lanes
5. show a little courtesy on the road
6. if u want a drink, let someone else drive
7. observe the signs
8. it's not cool to cut up bikes, someone could get killed

the other week someone moved into my lane right beside me without indicating. I had nowhere to go except into the oncoming traffic. Despite my honking, on he came on anyway and I saw the irate face of the driver. I couldn't brake cos someone was up my ass, couldn't accelerate cos there was a car i front of me, so I kicked his mirror - he wasn't using the feckin thing anyway - and he went back. Don't know what was on his mind, but at the time I was convinced he was deliberately trying to kill me, as he could definitely see me!

what really annoys me about motor cyclists is how they like to weave in and out traffic. even at a red light, when everyone else is waiting in line you often see motor cyclists jumping to the head of the queue? should they not have to wait in line like everyone else?

[anon361]

what really annoys me about motor cyclists is how they like to weave in and out traffic. even at a red light, when everyone else is waiting in line you often see motor cyclists jumping to the head of the queue? should they not have to wait in line like everyone else?

Yes we should but would you sit in a traffic jam if you didn't have to

[Paddii]

what really annoys me about motor cyclists is how they like to weave in and out traffic. even at a red light, when everyone else is waiting in line you often see motor cyclists jumping to the head of the queue? should they not have to wait in line like everyone else?

that's one advantage of bikes, u can do it. Like car drivers, some are assholes and do stupid things, but most of us are responsible and just want to get where we are going. After all, when u crash it hurts :O Filtering in traffic is not illegal and safe to do so if the drivers keep in a straight line.

[bhoywonder]

well if i could weave in and out of traffic with my car i probably would but its probably against the rules of the road. maybe its a different rule for motor cyclists