Rant about driving

lisajane

This is just my rant about driving. Im getting fairly pissed off with it. Im about 11/12 miles from galway city and the road i take into the city the speed limit is 50km throuh the villages and 60km outside the villages. Im always doing the speed limit. The same road has a continous white line on most of the road. And yet im always being overtaken. Im obviously being overtaken cause im driving to slow at the speed limit. But at least they're not happy with what im doing and they do something about it and get on with it.

But some of the people i work with if they're driving behind me, il hear about it. They bitch at how slow im goin and sit there behind me. One of them even calls me a granny. They don't even have the guts to overtake and they'l bitch about me doing the speed limit.

Why can't they put some guards on the roads checking the speed, they will be caught. And i can laugh at them with their points and wave at them when they have to walk to work from losing their licence.

Sherifu

60km? What road is this?

Tabnabs

This morning, on the M50 southbound just after the Sandyford off ramp. I saw an unmarked white van (transit or similar) pull out from the roadworks in what used to be the overtaking lane and drove off, he then put on his hazards, but continued to speed up to speed limit. He continued driving in the overtaking lane with the hazards on until he came up to a group of cars and trucks using both lanes. He moved from the over taking lane to the hard shoulder and undertook all the traffic in his way and eventually rejoined the overtaking lane and continued on past Cherrywood southbound, all the while the hazard lights blinking away. :mad:

biko

Dyflin wrote: »

all the while the hazard lights blinking away. :mad:

He must have got himself confused with a guard car

workaccount

lisajane wrote: »

This is just my rant about driving. Im getting fairly pissed off with it. Im about 11/12 miles from galway city and the road i take into the city the speed limit is 50km throuh the villages and 60km outside the villages. Im always doing the speed limit. The same road has a continous white line on most of the road. And yet im always being overtaken. Im obviously being overtaken cause im driving to slow at the speed limit. But at least they're not happy with what im doing and they do something about it and get on with it.

But some of the people i work with if they're driving behind me, il hear about it. They bitch at how slow im goin and sit there behind me. One of them even calls me a granny. They don't even have the guts to overtake and they'l bitch about me doing the speed limit.

Why can't they put some guards on the roads checking the speed, they will be caught. And i can laugh at them with their points and wave at them when they have to walk to work from losing their licence.

Probably to do with the fact that the speed limit is too low on most roads.

D_murph

workaccount wrote: »

Probably to do with the fact that the speed limit is too low on most roads.

X2^

although im amazed that the OP never sees guards on the roads she drives on.

sounds like a guaranteed quota filler to me..........:p

Robbo

I'm intrigued as to which road the OP is travelling on.

cyclopath2001

workaccount wrote: »

Probably to do with the fact that the speed limit is too low on most roads.

Or more accurately, some people think they're too low.

workaccount

cyclopath2001 wrote: »

Or more accurately, some people think they're too low.

meh, I think our problems are to do with driver competency.

It seems like you can go nowhere without meeting a useless driver.

Mr. Presentable

workaccount wrote: »

meh, I think our problems are to do with driver competency.

It seems like you can go nowhere without meeting a useless driver.

Or one that thinks the regulations don't apply to him

Seth Brundle

workaccount wrote: »

Probably to do with the fact that the speed limit is too low on most roads.

D_murph wrote: »

X2^

although im amazed that the OP never sees guards on the roads she drives on.

sounds like a guaranteed quota filler to me..........:p

Do you work with cars, busses & trucks speeding past you?
Maybe if you spent an hour standing inside the roadworks along the M50, you would reconsider your opinion!

JHMEG

lisajane wrote: »

But some of the people i work with if they're driving behind me, il hear about it. They bitch at how slow im goin and sit there behind me. One of them even calls me a granny. They don't even have the guts to overtake and they'l bitch about me doing the speed limit.

There are plenty of ways you can get them back... wiz in their coffee etc.

Mena

lisajane wrote: »

The same road has a continous white line on most of the road.

lisajane wrote: »

They don't even have the guts to overtake and they'l bitch about me doing the speed limit.

Well gutsy or no, at least they're not overtaking on a continuous white line.

D_murph

kbannon wrote: »

Do you work with cars, busses & trucks speeding past you?
Maybe if you spent an hour standing inside the roadworks along the M50, you would reconsider your opinion!

i never drove the M50 (thankfully) so i cant complain about it but theres plenty of other roads with stupidly low speed limits here so my opinion stands!!!!!!!

especially when these are the places you are guaranteed to meet speed checks :mad:

lisajane

Mena wrote: »

Well gutsy or no, at least they're not overtaking on a continuous white line.

It doen't stop others. They're not worried about getting caught speeding. They shouldn't be worried overtaking. If they overtook me, fine, but instead they bitch about me doing the speed limit.

cyclopath2001

lisajane wrote: »

they bitch about me doing the speed limit.

I think you're showing great maturity by making your own road safety decision and not giving into bullying.

Bon courage.

Sherifu

lisajane wrote: »

It doen't stop others. They're not worried about getting caught speeding. They shouldn't be worried overtaking. If they overtook me, fine, but instead they bitch about me doing the speed limit.

Still waiting to hear which road it is. Must be some very dodgy back road. I don't suppose there's anywhere you can pull in to let them pass you?

vibe666

speed limits or not, there are a lot of poeple on Irish roads that drive far too slowly and cause a hazard to other drivers.

I've personally seen some very slow drivers being overtaken by everything from vans/truck to artic lorries and even a hearse! (seriously. it was empty but still a hearse)

tip for road users. when you are in a car and either an articulated lorry or a hearse overtakes you, you can be pretty certain you're going too slowly.

Anan1

vibe666 wrote: »

speed limits or not, there are a lot of poeple on Irish roads that drive far too slowly and cause a hazard to other drivers.

I do sympathise, but you have to ask yourself whether you really want these people driving outside their comfort zone. We all become dangerous when driving at a speed which we don't feel to be safe.

workaccount

Anan1 wrote: »

I do sympathise, but you have to ask yourself whether you really want these people driving outside their comfort zone. We all become dangerous when driving at a speed which we don't feel to be safe.

Well I don't. I don't want them driving at all.
That's assuming you call what they are doing "driving".

IMO they can't drive so they should not be going out on the road causing disruption and flashing and beeping their horns when somebody overtakes them.

It's no wonder ppl have road rage. :mad:

ImDave

workaccount wrote: »

flashing and beeping their horns when somebody overtakes them.

+1 :mad:

Mr. Presentable

vibe666 wrote: »

tip for road users. when you are in a car and either an articulated lorry or a hearse overtakes you, you can be pretty certain you're going too slowly.

Either that or they're going too fast!

lennox1

Why not contact the Traffic Corps at Mill St with your observations,as they may not be aware that the lawbreaking is as bad as you have observed on that particular road.They can't be everywhere as the numbers of traffic corps are not that great from what we hear.They may then observe it themselves and take action against the lawbreakers.

Fey!

Sherifu wrote: »

Still waiting to hear which road it is. Must be some very dodgy back road. I don't suppose there's anywhere you can pull in to let them pass you?

It could be the main Roscommon road coming through Turloughmore at 60kph and Lackagh at 50kph, then slowing to 60 and then 50 through Claregalway and going back to 100kph after the turn left up to Whiriskey Refridgeration on Homes' Hill.

Or maybe she's coming from Gort direction, slowing to 60kph then 50kph through Ardrahan, back down to 50kph in Kilcolgan, then back up to 100kph and the relatively straight no overtaking section as far as Clarinbridge, where you're back down to 50kph, the back to 100kph after the bad bends coming out of the village and 100kph all the way into town, but you can't really overtake safely until you hit the dual carraigeway at Oranmore.

Or maybe it's from Oughterard, where you're at 50kph through Moycullen, then a series of bad bends at 100kph, then a decent stretch of road with a good few junctions off it, then more bad turns, then 50kph from Glenlo Abbey through Bushypark into town.

Or, finally, from Spiddal, down to 50kph through Furbo, then back to either 80 or 100kph for a few miles, then back down to 50kph through Barna, then speed up for a couple of seconds and back to 50kph from Silver Strand into town, all on twisty roads that aren't easily passable.

And not a single "back road" in sight there, but plenty of idiots who won't wait for the end of the town limits to overtake over solid white lines or junction crosshatches because they have no patience.

As for the pulling in to let them pass bit of the comment, a lot of these towns now have footpaths replacing the hard shoulder, so no, there isn't anywhere to pull in, and why should she if she's already at the limit?

(2 weeks ago I came out of Claregalway, obeying the new speed limit out to Homes' Hill, and some idiot in a red '06 Hilux Crewcab came from 3 cars back to overtake over a junction crosshatch and into oncoming traffic. If he had waited 10 seconds, traffic would have sped up to 100kph. As it worked out, he only did 80kph in the 100kph section, so he ended up with a tailback behind him and the same cars he overtook overtaking him. Saw the Hilux at a building site across the road from Dunnes in Westside a few days later; was tempted to ask him where he bought his license.)

vibe666

nipplenuts wrote: »

Either that or they're going too fast!

if it was a car overtaking you then yep, no problem I'm willing to concede that it 'might' be that they are going to fast. when someone gets overtaken by a hearse or articulated lorry you can bet with a fair degree of certainty it's the overtakee who's in the wrong.

if you can't drive on public roads without causing an obstruction to other road users (tractors and heavy machinery accepted (aside from during rush hour)) then you should be on the roads at all until you can.

that's one of the reasons there is a driving test. unfortunately someone saw fit to allow un-qualified drivers free access to the roads in ireland for some baffling reason. :mad:

Tigger

Dyflin wrote: »

This morning, on the M50 southbound just after the Sandyford off ramp. I saw an unmarked white van (transit or similar) pull out from the roadworks in what used to be the overtaking lane and drove off, he then put on his hazards, but continued to speed up to speed limit. He continued driving in the overtaking lane with the hazards on until he came up to a group of cars and trucks using both lanes. He moved from the over taking lane to the hard shoulder and undertook all the traffic in his way and eventually rejoined the overtaking lane and continued on past Cherrywood southbound, all the while the hazard lights blinking away. :mad:

i was in a hurry

cyclopath2001

vibe666 wrote: »

if you can't drive on public roads without causing an obstruction to other road users .... then you should [not] be on the roads

That definition would remove a lot of cars from the streets of Dublin & leave them free for buses.

Bendihorse

I would hazard a guess that OP is driving on the road from Claregalway into Galway city, extreemly low speed limit there on a relatively wide road with straight stretches. 80kph is more than slow enough on the road in question and at KBannon, there aren't any roadworks there but there have been a few accidents down through the years, lowering the speed limit wont achieve anything except irate drivers.

IMO it would have been a better idea to leave it at 100kph outside villages and enforce that and people overtaking where they shouldn't.

OP, feel free to doddle into work all you want but PLEASE be somewhat courtious to other road users and keep to the left hand side of the lane and if you see a mile long back log of traffic behind you, try to help out and move a little into the hard shoulder if its clear in front of you. I know there is no law that means you HAVE to do this, but i can promise you it would be appreciated by the other road users and your work mates

cyclopath2001

Bendihorse wrote: »

try to help out and move a little into the hard shoulder if its clear in front of you. I know there is no law that means you HAVE to do this, but i can promise you it would be appreciated by the other road users and your work mates

The hard shoulder is not part of the road. Your car must be driven on the right of the broken yellow line unless you're pulling over to stop or when rejoining the road. At any other time it's unlawful to drive in the manner proposed.

If you damage your car while facilitating impatient drivers in this way, for example by hitting a pot hole, you may find that the council will not accept liability.

Sherifu

Fey! wrote: »

It could be the main Roscommon road coming through Turloughmore at 60kph and Lackagh at 50kph, then slowing to 60 and then 50 through Claregalway and going back to 100kph after the turn left up to Whiriskey Refridgeration on Homes' Hill.

Or maybe she's coming from Gort direction, slowing to 60kph then 50kph through Ardrahan, back down to 50kph in Kilcolgan, then back up to 100kph and the relatively straight no overtaking section as far as Clarinbridge, where you're back down to 50kph, the back to 100kph after the bad bends coming out of the village and 100kph all the way into town, but you can't really overtake safely until you hit the dual carraigeway at Oranmore.

Or maybe it's from Oughterard, where you're at 50kph through Moycullen, then a series of bad bends at 100kph, then a decent stretch of road with a good few junctions off it, then more bad turns, then 50kph from Glenlo Abbey through Bushypark into town.

Or, finally, from Spiddal, down to 50kph through Furbo, then back to either 80 or 100kph for a few miles, then back down to 50kph through Barna, then speed up for a couple of seconds and back to 50kph from Silver Strand into town, all on twisty roads that aren't easily passable.

And not a single "back road" in sight there, but plenty of idiots who won't wait for the end of the town limits to overtake over solid white lines or junction crosshatches because they have no patience.

I don't think it's any of these roads Fey! from the discription the OP gives. Drivers overtaking on solid white lines and in towns are idiots for sure.

Fey! wrote: »

As for the pulling in to let them pass bit of the comment, a lot of these towns now have footpaths replacing the hard shoulder, so no, there isn't anywhere to pull in, and why should she if she's already at the limit?

Well I was offering up a suggestion for the OP to avoid awkward work colleagues. They don't have to if they don't want to.

The rest of your story - licences were bought in the eighties.

Marcus.Aurelius

cyclopath2001 wrote: »

The hard shoulder is not part of the road. Your car must be driven on the right of the broken yellow line unless you're pulling over to stop or when rejoining the road. At any other time it's unlawful to drive in the manner proposed.

That is not true in practice

We've had Gardaí and all sorts confirming that you can use the hard shoulder on a single lane road to allow faster moving traffic to pass. You may only use it for a short period, and not across junctions or around bends where you cannot see obstacles in your path should you remain that.

Insurance companies have also confirmed that this is 100% legal and in accordance with their terms of policy.

Stop spouting that scaremongering nonsense on every thread where someone asks that a driver actually display an ounce of consideration for others.

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

golfpaul

maoleary wrote: »

That is not true in practice

We've had Gardaí and all sorts confirming that you can use the hard shoulder on a single lane road to allow faster moving traffic to pass. You may only use it for a short period, and not across junctions or around bends where you cannot see obstacles in your path should you remain that.

Insurance companies have also confirmed that this is 100% legal and in accordance with their terms of policy.

Stop spouting that scaremongering nonsense on every thread where someone asks that a driver actually display an ounce of consideration for others.

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

Very true; it is illegal to drive on the hard shoulder of a motorway. If you are on a primary (or any other road with a hard shoulder) and you think you are holding up traffic then please pull in. Provided of course you have a clear view ahead of you and can do so safely!

D_murph

golfpaul wrote: »

Very true; it is illegal to drive on the hard shoulder of a motorway. If you are on a primary (or any other road with a hard shoulder) and you think you are holding up traffic then please pull in. Provided of course you have a clear view ahead of you and can do so safely!

exactly!!!!!!!!!

given a good line of sight of the road ahead, the hard shoulder isnt a treacherous minefield of potholes and assorted traps that spring up the second you pull into it to be courteous enough to let someone out from behind you if you are not in a hurry.

however, deliberately being a pace car (yes i know its not F1 ) is unacceptable if you can safely allow people to overtake you on a main road and really should be clamped down on as it can, inadvertedly cause accidents :mad:

Steve

cyclopath2001 wrote: »

The hard shoulder is not part of the road. Your car must be driven on the right of the broken yellow line unless you're pulling over to stop or when rejoining the road. At any other time it's unlawful to drive in the manner proposed.

If you damage your car while facilitating impatient drivers in this way, for example by hitting a pot hole, you may find that the council will not accept liability.

You seem to edge this into every thread that has the word overtaking in it despite being told otherwise, on numerous occasions, by posters who are members of the Garda Traffic Corps.

It's getting old and IMO is verging on trolling.

I know that you are entitled to your opinion - so am I - but, given the fact that what you are posting has been proven wrong on several occasions, can't you give it a rest.

JHMEG

cyclopath2001 wrote: »

The hard shoulder is not part of the road. Your car must be driven on the right of the broken yellow line unless you're pulling over to stop or when rejoining the road. At any other time it's unlawful to drive in the manner proposed.

If you damage your car while facilitating impatient drivers in this way, for example by hitting a pot hole, you may find that the council will not accept liability.

You got a copy of the Rules of the Road in the post recently. Driving in the hard shoulder is permissable at times, like to let traffic behind pass.

cyclopath2001

JHMEG wrote: »

You got a copy of the Rules of the Road in the post recently. Driving in the hard shoulder is permissable at times, like to let traffic behind pass.

Yes I did. And I read it, did you? It does not say 'drive on the hard shoulder'. As you must know, the RoTR is not a legal document and driving on the hard shoulder is not permitted in the actual road traffic regulations.

As to the advice given here by the alleged Garda and others, it won't be much use in a court case. I'd advise any motorist here to err on the side of caution, if they are in any doubt about the legality or safety of a manoeuvre they decide to make in order to facilitate overtaking by others. I'm all in favour of showing consideration to others....safely and legally.

stevec wrote:

You seem to edge this into every thread that has the word overtaking in it despite being told otherwise, on numerous occasions, by posters who are members of the Garda Traffic Corps.

I was not aware that this board was being moderated by the Gardai. Have they given their real names?

Padraig Mor

cyclopath2001 wrote: »

The hard shoulder is not part of the road. Your car must be driven on the right of the broken yellow line unless you're pulling over to stop or when rejoining the road. At any other time it's unlawful to drive in the manner proposed. .

Jaysus Cyclo give it a rest will you?. You're on here every few weeks saying the same thing. You are technically correct - no one should drive in the hard shoulder according to a strict interpretation of the law. However, given that the Rules of the Road suggest this course of action, noone is ever going to get 'done' for it. The ROTR IS an interpretation of the law, no matter what they say.

Steve

cyclopath2001 wrote: »

I was not aware that this board was being moderated by the Gardai. Have they given their real names?

And your point is?

The Gardai happen to 'moderate' the roads that we all drive on, don't you think that's even slightly relevant?

Can you provide a link to any case where a motorist was convicted for driving on the hard shoulder?

JHMEG

cyclopath2001 wrote: »

Yes I did. And I read it, did you? It does not say 'drive on the hard shoulder'. As you must know, the RoTR is not a legal document and driving on the hard shoulder is not permitted in the actual road traffic regulations.

It says:

"If a driver wants to allow a vehicle behind them to overtake, they may pull in to the hard shoulder briefly as long as no pedestrians or cyclists are already using it and no junctions or entrances are nearby."

I don't think anyone is going to get done for following the Rules of the Road, do you?

Bendihorse

cyclopath2001 wrote: »

Yes I did. And I read it, did you? It does not say 'drive on the hard shoulder'. As you must know, the RoTR is not a legal document and driving on the hard shoulder is not permitted in the actual road traffic regulations.

As to the advice given here by the alleged Garda and others, it won't be much use in a court case. I'd advise any motorist here to err on the side of caution, if they are in any doubt about the legality or safety of a manoeuvre they decide to make in order to facilitate overtaking by others. I'm all in favour of showing consideration to others....safely and legally.

I was not aware that this board was being moderated by the Gardai. Have they given their real names?

It is illegal to 'drive' in the hard shoulder as in use it as another lane like on a dual carriageway, not to manoeuvre into it for a short period where you have a clear view ahead and it is unobstructed, or junctions or entrances are present.

Do you honestly think the county council engineers of this country put hard shoulders in place at the edge of the road so you could use it solely for your pulling in and pulling out manoeuvres? Catch a grip man, if I knew who you were id come down there and take your licence off you personally. You should get the book thrown at you by a traffic cop for being inconsiderate to other road users.

Do you realise that by being pig headed like you are and flouting that hard shoulder 'law' that you are inadvertently putting other innocent road users in danger when the irate driver stuck behind you attempts to pass in a place that they shouldn't and cross into the path of an oncoming driver? All because you refuse to marginally move into that lovely expanse of virgin tar called the hard shoulder and let them get on with it?

I suspect you apply this thinking and principal to all of your driving. Make no mistake about it, You are the reason that people are dying on our roads. You cause accidents by being inconsiderate to other road users and thinking that you own the road. You and your attitude that 'as long as im ok, f**k everyone else'. You and drink/drug drivers. The law that you choose to misinterpret to suit yourself, does not give you the right to play copper on everyone else.

Marcus.Aurelius

Bendihorse wrote: »

I suspect you apply this thinking and principal to all of your driving. Make no mistake about it, You are the reason that people are dying on our roads, you cause accidents by being inconsiderate to other road users and thinking that you 'own' the road. You and drink/drug drivers. The law that you choose to misinterpret to suit yourself, does not give you the right to play copper on everyone else.

Bravo, +1

Wait and see, he'll blame someone else shortly.

GTC

cyclopath2001 wrote: »

I was not aware that this board was being moderated by the Gardai. Have they given their real names?

I believe giving my name wouldn't be a wise course of action!

Suffice to say, I'm a member of Traffic Corps, and I would agree with your posts regarding the strictest legalities surrounding driving in the hard shoulder.

However, in practice, this is allowed so that traffic may overtake a slower driver. Speed is irrelevant, its just good manners.

You are not the roads police, let other drivers pass.

If they are actually dangerously speeding (>20 kph over the limit) we will catch them in due course.

It's not your decision

lisajane

Fey! wrote: »

Or, finally, from Spiddal, down to 50kph through Furbo, then back to either 80 or 100kph for a few miles, then back down to 50kph through Barna, then speed up for a couple of seconds and back to 50kph from Silver Strand into town, all on twisty roads that aren't easily passable.

QUOTE]

Im talking about this road. From spiddal to galway. Where did you get the 80km/100km speed limit from going past furbo. Its 60km. 50 through furbo, 60km past and then on to barna at 50km into town. Going past barna and there isn't a higher speed limit. Your not meant to speed up until silver strand.

Do people not see the speed limit signs at all?

Bendihorse

Im sure they do lisajane but to be honest i dont drive exactly on 40kph in a 40 or just under it to be on the safe side, same applies to 60kph limits and 80. Not very many people do. If they did the whole country would get getting nowhere fast. Generally and within reason, i dont live my life strictly by the rules imposed on me by the government to the nearest .5kmh...

If i came across you in a once off situation i wouldn't pass any heed just roll my eyes and doddle along behind you until i could get past safely, but to get caught behind you every day when i was rushing into work would probably drive me insane!

lisajane

To end this then. Speed limits mean absolutely nothing. Im the one following the the rules of the road and yet im the one being told to get the f off cause im causing an obstruction doing the limit. The speed limit at 50km is quite fast for pedestrians and cyclists.

Fey!

lisajane wrote: »

Fey! wrote: »

Or, finally, from Spiddal, down to 50kph through Furbo, then back to either 80 or 100kph for a few miles, then back down to 50kph through Barna, then speed up for a couple of seconds and back to 50kph from Silver Strand into town, all on twisty roads that aren't easily passable.

Im talking about this road. From spiddal to galway. Where did you get the 80km/100km speed limit from going past furbo. Its 60km. 50 through furbo, 60km past and then on to barna at 50km into town. Going past barna and there isn't a higher speed limit. Your not meant to speed up until silver strand.

Do people not see the speed limit signs at all?

I do see and obey speed limits. What you quoted above was based on memory; I haven't driven that road in a while, so apologies for having one of the speeds wrong.

Robbo

lisajane wrote: »

Do people not see the speed limit signs at all?

Are they properly translated into Irish?

Seriously though, I live out this road and you're looking at the traffic generally doing about 60km/h from Knocknacarragh Cross out to Barna village and about 70 thereafter. I fail to see the problem with making progress on this road.

The only accidents I see are drunks and people who pull out when it isn't clear from the Ballymoneen/Cappagh road junctions.

Bendihorse

When you reach a speed limit sign that indicates a drop in the speed limit do you break hard and down to exactly the speed displayed on the sign as soon as you pass it? Similarly do you speed up imediately as you pass an increase in speed limit sign?

JHMEG

Been a while since I was on that road from what I remember it's narrow, windey, and has high banks at the sides, obstructing visibility. Most of it has no hard shoulder, and it's very busy.

Sherifu

JHMEG wrote: »

Been a while since I was on that road from what I remember it's narrow, windey, and has high banks at the sides, obstructing visibility. Most of it has no hard shoulder, and it's very busy.

Yep that's a fairly good description of it. Pulling in isn't really an option on this road. Guess you're stuck with your situation OP. Sorry.

JHMEG

Sherifu wrote: »

Yep that's a fairly good description of it. Pulling in isn't really an option on this road. Guess you're stuck with your situation OP. Sorry.

I can't see the Co Co ever widening that road, as is so badly needed. I always wondered about Galway City/Co Co's motives...a dual carriageway halfway out to the airport and a boreen the rest of the way?