Moaning and Bitching about a bit of snow

[ChiefHandker]

First off there is no need to put snow tires on every car in Ireland as they have no need to be all on the road at the same time secondly it is a personal cost which can be spread over many years as if u forecast the tyres would be only used a few days a year, a set of tires would last
several years and could be traded etc when cars would be changed.
Third point u think it is fairer burden all tax payers with a cost that they have not generated
And in conclusion seeing as ure doing mathematics 200 x 1.6 =320 million

Some good points raised by both of ye but i absolutely do feel that our county councils should be gritting roads and footpaths.
I had 2 elderly relatives who had the misfortune of slipping on busy public fothpaths last January, both of them broke bones. When i went to the A&E the place was buzzing from similar injuries, surgeons literally looking exhausted and it was mostly elderly people so i must disagree, they should'nt feel afraid when shopping or walking to mass etc. And if you think about the amount of money that was spent on hospital injuries last December and January it's really a no brainer.

[bedridden]

But probably almost every car will want to travel at some point in time, so will need those tires.
A fairly small percentage of motorists drive 4x4, so as tax burden sharing goes, this is a fairly insignificant one.
Thanks for the maths correction. At 32 mil I wasn't sure, at 320 mil it definately doesn't make sense.

[ber]

But probably almost every car will want to travel at some point in time, so will need those tires.
A fairly small percentage of motorists drive 4x4, so as tax burden sharing goes, this is a fairly insignificant one.
Thanks for the maths correction. At 32 mil I wasn't sure, at 320 mil it definately doesn't make sense.

The cost as a percentage of running a car annualy is tiny.

[ber]

Some good points raised by both of ye but i absolutely do feel that our county councils should be gritting roads and footpaths.
I had 2 elderly relatives who had the misfortune of slipping on busy public fothpaths last January, both of them broke bones. When i went to the A&E the place was buzzing from similar injuries, surgeons literally looking exhausted and it was mostly elderly people so i must disagree, they should'nt feel afraid when shopping or walking to mass etc. And if you think about the amount of money that was spent on hospital injuries last December and January it's really a no brainer.

I agree with u about the footpaths,but as in other countries an onus should be put on the buisness or the house owners to clear the paths in front of their houses or premises. In some countries u are liable if u havent made a realistic effort to keep it clear.
This is not a them or us situation as there deff is a role for the corporations but the people must share the responsibility.

[bedridden]

That's true. Even if it didn't make economic sense, the hassle if would avoid might make if worthwhile.

[Violette]

Being a native New Yorker, I can seriously tell you, this is not serious snow. If serious snow ever fell in this country, it would grind to a halt with NATO needing to be sent in to rescue the country. For one thing you haven't the first clue what to do when it falls, and are scrambling to play catch up when it does. The airports are shut down costing millions a day because there is no precautionary action taken to make sure runways are clear and salted. And you call yourself a major city? The council can't be asked to purchase the necessary type of salt required to melt through the snow, and are instead relying on grit to suffice. Which is ridiculous, I have never heard of using girt on snow. Not only that, but people can't be asked to get out and shovel the snow from in front their own doors. Fair enough last year was a surprise for everyone, but WTF, they predicted this again this year. Does anyone do anything to rectify this. Nope! Not a damn thing is done.

[herodotus]

All of these would be fair points if we got two to three months of snow per years as is the case in the other countries that you refer to.

And I think it is perfectly reasonable to blame the councils and the government. They are paid a hell of a lot of money to take care of these things and it is not reasonable to make excuses.

Also, you make the point that the average man in the street should be prepared but at the same time you say that the government nad the councils should not be expected to prepare.


Having said all of that, I do think that people should take some responsibility. But, our good old friends, the lawyers, were out in force telling people they would be open to litigation if they did anything.

So what are we supposed to do?

We are complaining about a few inches of snow and the gridlock it causes.
All the blame is being put on the NRA and the councils, where is the personal
responsibility here. We expect the councils to be prepared with salt and grit
and snow ploughs but we think we dont have to do fanny adams.
Contrary to the public conception here if people on the continent didnt take
personal action they would not stir either. They will be driving in conditions
much worse than ours even when treated. They would come to a standstill
too but they all use snow tires or snow chains, u have ure second set and
when the weather changes u change and get prepared. We drive round
on ordinary tyres and expect the council to have the roads all ready for
us like laying down a red carpet. Before people start oh we have no tyres
cant get tyres etc what were u doing all the year? We got our warning
last winter,how many of u have prepared?
Fail to prepare and u prepare to fail.
We can blame the goverment for lots of things but not the weather we
must also make an effort ourselves.Personally i have a 4x4 so dont have
a prob getting around and thats travelling all untreated roads, but its
up to each individual to make their own arrangments to a certain degree

[hornylimerick]

Being a native New Yorker, I can seriously tell you, this is not serious snow. If serious snow ever fell in this country, it would grind to a halt with NATO needing to be sent in to rescue the country. For one thing you haven't the first clue what to do when it falls, and are scrambling to play catch up when it does. The airports are shut down costing millions a day because there is no precautionary action taken to make sure runways are clear and salted. And you call yourself a major city? The council can't be asked to purchase the necessary type of salt required to melt through the snow, and are instead relying on grit to suffice. Which is ridiculous, I have never heard of using girt on snow. Not only that, but people can't be asked to get out and shovel the snow from in front their own doors. Fair enough last year was a surprise for everyone, but WTF, they predicted this again this year. Does anyone do anything to rectify this. Nope! Not a damn thing is done.

I really don't know what all the fuss is about, I just drove from Limerick to clane and back again today the roads were perfect, yet o. The radio all they're saying is don't drive unless u have to??

[lovethegirls]

Being a native New Yorker, I can seriously tell you, this is not serious snow. If serious snow ever fell in this country, it would grind to a halt with NATO needing to be sent in to rescue the country. For one thing you haven't the first clue what to do when it falls, and are scrambling to play catch up when it does. The airports are shut down costing millions a day because there is no precautionary action taken to make sure runways are clear and salted. And you call yourself a major city? The council can't be asked to purchase the necessary type of salt required to melt through the snow, and are instead relying on grit to suffice. Which is ridiculous, I have never heard of using girt on snow. Not only that, but people can't be asked to get out and shovel the snow from in front their own doors. Fair enough last year was a surprise for everyone, but WTF, they predicted this again this year. Does anyone do anything to rectify this. Nope! Not a damn thing is done.

Totally agree. The whole place goes into a panic. The snow we get is nothing compared to other countries.

[ber]

All of these would be fair points if we got two to three months of snow per years as is the case in the other countries that you refer to.

And I think it is perfectly reasonable to blame the councils and the government. They are paid a hell of a lot of money to take care of these things and it is not reasonable to make excuses.

Also, you make the point that the average man in the street should be prepared but at the same time you say that the government nad the councils should not be expected to prepare.


Having said all of that, I do think that people should take some responsibility. But, our good old friends, the lawyers, were out in force telling people they would be open to litigation if they did anything.

So what are we supposed to do?

If u read what i have said,i dont absolve the councils of course they have a role to play, but
what people in this country expect is that the council takes all responsibility and the people none. As regards ure other point ure exactly right we dont have 3 months snow so u cant
expect us to have supplies to deal with the extra ordinary or a fleet of snow ploughs. U see
u cant win with us if we had warehouses full of salt and we got a mild winter we would be complaining of the cost of renting warehouses etc to store it. We have to ship in the salt so
we have to take an estimate we cant order it today and have it tomorrow. This is shaping
up to be the coldest December on record so in fairness councils and corporations have finite resources so decisions have to be taken, do u put alot of resources into preparing for something
that is a extraordinary event for this country ,taking money away from maintaince for roads
water etc for rest of the year. When forward planning budgets etc u have to look at value
for money, would it be wise to invest alot of money in specialised equipement to be used
for maybe a couple of days every few years.
As for the legal issue that has been resolved u are not responsible if somebody slips on a pathway u have cleared