Motoring Vigilantes

RobAMerc

Ok, we are all sick of the totally idiotic Irish phenomenon of staying right when not overtaking, the authorities seem not to care and I am not allowed have guns fitted to the front of the car to clear the overtaking lane of twats, so...

Would anyone else be up for making large signs from some old sheets, and tying them up on the flyovers on the motorways (M50 mainly) of Ireland? Like the Up Kerry ones we are used to seeing on the motorways into Dublin?

" STAY LEFT UNLESS OVERTAKING “ Large arrow pointing left too.

It will probably not work as most Irish drivers are oblivious to everything outside their car but it might help wake the authorities up to this.

The UK has a growing number of vigilantly groups targeting speed cameras as they have seen the light and know what their true purpose is, but that’s for another day.

Robbo

I mean in Gotham City in the United States they call up a specialist vigilante agent when they're in times of real trouble, by projecting a huge luminous emergency bat sign into the sky, and he comes rushing in. And so far that has worked. Is that something that should be encouraged?

Sorry, had to shoehorn in the Brasseye quote.

prospect

It is so annoying....
Here is a tip, the fastest lane on the new N7 Naas road is the inside/left lane. Everyone seems afraid to use it??
So I happily go into it, set my cruise control at 100Kmh and most evenings I am constantly passing cars in the middle and right lane.

connundrum

prospect wrote:

It is so annoying....
Here is a tip, the fastest lane on the new N7 Naas road is the inside/left lane. Everyone seems afraid to use it??
So I happily go into it, set my cruise control at 100Kmh and most evenings I am constantly passing cars in the middle and right lane.

I found that to be true too! And people that I am passing appear to be looking at me with disgust ie. 'you're on the inside therefore you should not be passing me! I'll write a strong letter to someone!'

Muppets!

Kashkai

Totally pointless trying to convince the gob****es to use the right lane for overtaking only.

I use the M4 road each day and I'm constantly passing guys who are hogging the right lane. Now there are those who would say "undertaking" while in the left lane is illegal but if I'm doing under 120kph on a motorway and there's nothing in front of me, why can't I keep passing the eejits who have a "fast lane" mentality. Its actually funny to glance at these morons who glare a me while they are stuck at 80 - 90kph behind other gob****es in the right lane while I effortlessly cruise pass them in the left lane. Don't they ever get it? Obviously not based on the number of threads about this wierd and not so wonderful Irish take on how to use a motorway.

Jumpy

Prosperous Dave wrote:

Totally pointless trying to convince the gob****es to use the right lane for overtaking only.

I use the M4 road each day and I'm constantly passing guys who are hogging the right lane. Now there are those who would say "undertaking" while in the left lane is illegal but if I'm doing under 120kph on a motorway and there's nothing in front of me, why can't I keep passing the eejits who have a "fast lane" mentality. Its actually funny to glance at these morons who glare a me while they are stuck at 80 - 90kph behind other gob****es in the right lane while I effortlessly cruise pass them in the left lane. Don't they ever get it? Obviously not based on the number of threads about this wierd and not so wonderful Irish take on how to use a motorway.

Undertaking is what its known as here, even thought the word meaning isnt correct. Its not illegal to 'undertake' but it is dangerous in the fact that people dont often look left when moving back into the lane.

ToxicPaddy

Was driving down the N11 a few weeks ago and got to the Arklow by pass. There was a guy in front of me who immediately moved into the right hand lane and was driving at 100k, then when someone came up behind him, he pulled into the left lane, as soon as they passed, he moved back out into the right lane..

Continued to do this the whole length of the by pass.. very odd

Tox

Stark

You met one of the Weavers then.

crosstownk

Its quite amazing if you think about it............. We all hear people complain and moan about muppets who stay in the right lane, God knows, we see enough of them every day. But I've yet to hear anyone actually admit to it............ Do these people go into hiding once they get out of their cars?

I've given up flashing headlights, indicating right and other tactits. I just 'undertake'. It's less stressful.

prospect

Probably because people who are incapable of using indicators and understanding lane positions, are also incapable of using computers/the internet...

mike65

Its quite amazing if you think about it............. We all hear people complain and moan about muppets who stay in the right lane, God knows, we see enough of them every day. But I've yet to hear anyone actually admit to it............ Do these people go into hiding once they get out of their cars?

One or two have said they do this on boards but they have'nt lasted long.

I like the signs, except you'll proberly get killed trying to errect one in an Autume gale. Hows about a simple A4 sheet with KEEP LEFT UNLESS PASSING sign for the back window?

Mike.

Mike.

unkel

Jumpy wrote:

Its not illegal to 'undertake' but it is dangerous

It is illegal and yes, it is dangerous

crosstownk wrote:

I've given up flashing headlights, indicating right and other tactits. I just 'undertake'. It's less stressful.

I agree it is a bit less stressful, especially if there are other people on board - they mightn't even notice a smooth undertake. It is dangerous though. I'm guilty of undertaking too, although I am always highly alert when doing so. I know I can either accelerate or brake much faster than the vast majority of other cars

Having said that, I do not condone undertaking. I have never allowed myself to undertake in any other country except Ireland

jimmycrackcorm

• Where traffic is moving slowly and the vehicles in the lane on your right are moving more slowly than the traffic in your lane.

It could be argued that the traffic on the right on the N7 is moving slowly.
I couldn't beleive how bad it was on sunday as I flew along the left hand lane without a single car in it and all the other cars in the other two lanes. It's actually so incredible I wanted to video it on my mobile if I had the space.

unkel

jimmycrackcorm wrote:

It could be argued that the traffic on the right on the N7 is moving slowly

We argued that one before over here and if I remember right, most people interpreted "slow" in that context as crawling traffic, i.e. doing say 10-20km/h as opposed to 60-80km/h

But it is always good to have that argument handy should one get stopped for undertaking

prospect

I remember that particular discussion.
It was in relation to passing a single vehicle that was hogging the overtaking lane on a motorway. The ROTR state:
"Overtake on the right only, unless traffic is moving in queues and the traffic queue on your right is moving more slowly than you are."
So in the situation on the Naas Road, N7, it would seem okay to pass on the left, as it is usually a steady queue in the middle/right lanes.


Also derive what you like from this:
"The normal "keep left" rule applies. This means that you stay in the left hand lane unless you are overtaking. In a three lane carriageway you may stay in the centre lane while there is slower moving traffic on the inner lane."
So, do you KEEP LEFT or do you STAY IN THE CENTRE ?

Töpher

prospect wrote:

I remember that particular discussion.
It was in relation to passing a single vehicle that was hogging the overtaking lane on a motorway. The ROTR state:
"Overtake on the right only, unless traffic is moving in queues and the traffic queue on your right is moving more slowly than you are."
So in the situation on the Naas Road, N7, it would seem okay to pass on the left, as it is usually a steady queue in the middle/right lanes.


Also derive what you like from this:
"The normal "keep left" rule applies. This means that you stay in the left hand lane unless you are overtaking. In a three lane carriageway you may stay in the centre lane while there is slower moving traffic on the inner lane."
So, do you KEEP LEFT or do you STAY IN THE CENTRE ?

Always keep left unless passing slower vehicles. It's the exact same, surely?

peasant

prospect wrote:

Also derive what you like from this:
"The normal "keep left" rule applies. This means that you stay in the left hand lane unless you are overtaking. In a three lane carriageway you may stay in the centre lane while there is slower moving traffic on the inner lane."
So, do you KEEP LEFT or do you STAY IN THE CENTRE ?

the common sense meaning behind this is:

You do not have to weave in and out between every truck that travels in the left lane, you MAY stay in the middle lane until there is a longer stretch of clear lane on the left that you then should move back in to

prospect

Einst&#252 wrote: »

Always keep left unless passing slower vehicles. It's the exact same, surely?

I would have thought so, but then it goes on to say it is okay to tootle along in the centre lane

I would have thought it would be:

LEFT LANE - Driving lane, All Vehicles. Stay in this lane at all times unless;
1. You are passing another vehicle
2. There is traffic merging onto the carriageway from a slip road
3. There is an obstruction in the lane

Centre Lane - Overtaking Lane 1, All Vehicles. You should only be in this lane if:
1. You are passing traffic on the left
2. You are allowing space for traffic to merge onto the carriageway, into the left lane
3. There is an obstruction in the left lane

Right Lane - Overtaking Lane 2, No Vehicles over X weight, No Trailers, No vehicles under 50cc. You should only be in this lane when:
1. You are overtaking vehicles in the centre lane


I think that covers it, or at least that is how it should work in my mind.....

prospect

peasant wrote:

the common sense meaning behind this is:

You do not have to weave in and out between every truck that travels in the left lane, you MAY stay in the middle lane until there is a longer stretch of clear lane on the left that you then should move back in to

aha, you are right, I was reading that badly.

Idleater

unkel wrote:

We argued that one before over here and if I remember right, most people interpreted "slow" in that context as crawling traffic, i.e. doing say 10-20km/h as opposed to 60-80km/h

But it is always good to have that argument handy should one get stopped for undertaking

Well, I think that the "speed" of the slower moving "queue" can be increased (even to the speed limit of the road) but the definition of the "undertaking" manouver be corrected to say "passing on the left":

An undertaking manouver is where you move from your driving lane, to a lane on your left, pass a vehicle and move back into the lane on the right.

This is different from passing on the left which is more legal and safer.

If you move left, and stay in that lane passing vehicles then you may do so as you are making due progress in queued traffic, while maintaining the "keep left" rule.

The dangerous part in "undertaking" is the swerve left, quick acceleration, and swerve right. It is also usually done where there is not "sufficient" safe room to pass on the left - ie if you mirrored the example, you probably wouldnt overtake on the right either.



L.

NeMiSiS

2. There is traffic merging onto the carriageway from a slip road.
This is a huge problem because people coming onto motorways should be able to merge correctly and at sufficent speed, matching the speed of the exsisting traffic.

TK

prospect

NeMiSiS wrote:

2. There is traffic merging onto the carriageway from a slip road.
This is a huge problem because people coming onto motorways should be able to merge correctly and at sufficent speed, matching the speed of the exsisting traffic.

TK

Agreed,

However, if all motorists used the left lane as they should, it would mean a much higher volume of traffic in that lane. This makes it harder to merge as there are less gaps to move into, so one of three things need to happen:

1. The merging traffic has to stop in lane and wait for a sufficient/safe gap in the traffic
2. The traffic in the left lane needs to continuously slow down to create gaps, this will cause a big tailback on the left lane
3. the traffic in the left lane can move briefly into the centre lane when required. This allows safer merging and does not have the knock-on effect that slowing traffic has.

easyontheeye

i dont mind drivers in the right lane as long as they are doing the maximum speed, if they are strolling along like its a sunday evening in the park ill just flash the buggers until they move over!
I dont agree with the notion that the right lane is only an overtaking lane as the traffic volumes are too high but if your in the right lane you should be doing the speed!

jd

easyontheeye wrote:

i dont mind drivers in the right lane as long as they are doing the maximum speed, if they are strolling along like its a sunday evening in the park ill just flash the buggers until they move over!
I dont agree with the notion that the right lane is only an overtaking lane as the traffic volumes are too high but if your in the right lane you should be doing the speed!

It is not a "notion". It is the law!

Diddy Kong

what about rush hour traffic on the M50??? Are people supposed to stay in 1 lane?? If the roads actually matched the actual traffic, then more people would follow the law and only use it for overtaking, but i think its unrealistic to expect drivers to stay in 1 lane and only use the other for overtaking...My 2 hours on the M50 on the way home (every day) would jump to 3 or 4!!!

prospect

dbfarrell wrote:

what about rush hour traffic on the M50??? Are people supposed to stay in 1 lane?? If the roads actually matched the actual traffic, then more people would follow the law and only use it for overtaking, but i think its unrealistic to expect drivers to stay in 1 lane and only use the other for overtaking...My 2 hours on the M50 on the way home (every day) would jump to 3 or 4!!!

True,
However travel the N7 any evening and you will see that the same mentality of right lane hogging still exists. This is despite the fact the road can easily cope with the volumes....

Stark

dbfarrell wrote:

what about rush hour traffic on the M50??? Are people supposed to stay in 1 lane?? If the roads actually matched the actual traffic, then more people would follow the law and only use it for overtaking, but i think its unrealistic to expect drivers to stay in 1 lane and only use the other for overtaking...My 2 hours on the M50 on the way home (every day) would jump to 3 or 4!!!

Or maybe people could move gracefully in the right-hand lane, while people in the left lane sit and gawk at water tower/minor accident/garda speed check whatever. Sorry, just spent 30 mins queuing on the M50 between the N4 and the N7 only for traffic to return to full speed once we were passed two cars parked in the hard shoulder. Same
thing when there was a garda speed check the previous week. Grrr, cretins.

Anyway, not even sure if my rant was on-topic there, just had to get it off my chest.

Jumpy

unkel wrote:

It is illegal and yes, it is dangerous



I agree it is a bit less stressful, especially if there are other people on board - they mightn't even notice a smooth undertake. It is dangerous though. I'm guilty of undertaking too, although I am always highly alert when doing so. I know I can either accelerate or brake much faster than the vast majority of other cars

Having said that, I do not condone undertaking. I have never allowed myself to undertake in any other country except Ireland

Its only illegal to do it on the hard shoulder.
For Dual Carriageways and Motorways its a courtesy thing. It isnt a points penalty

jd

Jumpy wrote:

Its only illegal to do it on the hard shoulder.
For Dual Carriageways and Motorways its a courtesy thing. It isnt a points penalty

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/ZZSI182Y1997.html#ZZSI182Y1997A10

Idleater

jd wrote:

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/ZZSI182Y1997.html#ZZSI182Y1997A10

I presume you are referring to:

5) A driver may only overtake on the left—

( a ) where the driver of the vehicle about to be overtaken has signalled an intention to turn to the right and the driver of the overtaking vehicle intends, after overtaking, to go straight ahead or to turn to the left,

( b ) where the driver of the overtaking vehicle intends, after overtaking, to turn left at the next road junction and has signalled this intention,

( c ) in slow moving traffic, when vehicles in the traffic lane on the driver's right are moving more slowly than the overtaking vehicle.

But as I have already indicated, you can pass a vehicle on the left if you continue to drive in the "correct" lane according to the keep left rule.

An overtake would infer that I switched right lane > left lane > right lane.

L.