Rules of the road, two questions please.

VERYinterested

I scoured the book when it arrived last year and could not find a mention of this first one. You are driving through an estate (or any road for that matter) there is a parked car on your side of the road and a car coming in the opposite direction. The blockage is on your side of the road, therefore you must yield to the oncoming car and then overtake the parked car when it is safe to do so. Common sense but most SUV drivers appear to be exempt from this, I wonder why it is not mentioned in the Rules of the Road anymore as it is a pet hate of mine.

Second one is a very dangerous habit that a few people have developed. In the last year the development of Taylor's Lane (Green Route) near the Eden Pub in Rathfarnham, has provided a lovely wide road and there are Bus Lanes provided but not in use. Last night I was in a line of cars all travelling at a reasonable speed, and twice some guy tried to undertake me, despite there being nowhere for him to go if he achieved his manoeuvre, the road narrows in sections, especially as you approach the traffic lights near the entrance to Marlay Park travelling towards Lidl from the Eden Pub, and the bus lane just ends abruptly, it is suicidal to attempt this undertaking and downright dangerous. Anyone know what the story is on this grey area? Some Taxi men use it as a race track also. Similar problem exists if travelling to and from the Dundrum Town Centre from Ballinteer, Bus Lane not in use being used for undertaking.

Cyrus

on the second one just dont let them back in, will soon sort it out :P

i think the first one is in the rules somewhere just maybe not quite as described above. basically if there is an obstruction on your side of the road then you have to give way

seamus

I don't remember the original ROTR ever mentioning anything about overtaking vehicles in estates.
That first item would be covered of course by the "Always drive on the left" item. There should also be something in there about overtaking obstacles/hazards - it probably wouldn't deal with estates specifically because the rules are the same.

The second may be an offence, depending on circumstances. Technically everyone who's driving in the right-hand lane and not the bus lane, is guilty of an offence because they're ignoring the general rule of "drive on the left". When a bus lane is a normal lane, you are technically required to use it, unless overtaking.
In reality this isn't always reasonable because the bus lane stops and starts.

If the traffic in the right-hand lane is moving and someone uses the bus lane to undertake, they are guilty of an offence - overtaking on the left.
If the traffic in the right-hand lane is stopped, then someone is more than entitled to use the left-hand lane to overtake. I do this all the time where bus lanes are not in operation.
Of course, in every case you should not overtake unless it is safe to do so, so even if he is legitimately overtaking, doing it dangerously or doing it where there isn't space, is an offence.

Esel

seamus wrote: »

If the traffic in the right-hand lane is moving and someone uses the bus lane to undertake, they are guilty of an offence - overtaking on the left.

Not if the traffic in the right lane is moving slowly.

seamus

esel wrote: »

Not if the traffic in the right lane is moving slowly.

That's up for discussion. The correct interpretation is "moving in queues", so even if the traffic is moving slowly, it has to be moving in a queue in order for the manouver to be legitimate.

Or to put it another way - if there are three cars moving at 40km/h, but nothing in front of them, you can't overtake on the left.

lightening

esel wrote: »

Not if the traffic in the right lane is moving slowly.

Exactly. Just let them merge like a zip.

Del2005

VERYinterested wrote: »

I scoured the book when it arrived last year and could not find a mention of this first one. You are driving through an estate (or any road for that matter) there is a parked car on your side of the road and a car coming in the opposite direction. The blockage is on your side of the road, therefore you must yield to the oncoming car and then overtake the parked car when it is safe to do so. Common sense but most SUV drivers appear to be exempt from this, I wonder why it is not mentioned in the Rules of the Road anymore as it is a pet hate of mine.

Pure ignorance usually. But when driving large vehilces (HGV/Bus) then the only way to make progress is the be assertive and push out past parked vehicles and make the oncoming traffic stop or pull over, it's a very fine balance between assertive and ignorant though!

Second one is a very dangerous habit that a few people have developed. In the last year the development of Taylor's Lane (Green Route) near the Eden Pub in Rathfarnham, has provided a lovely wide road and there are Bus Lanes provided but not in use. Last night I was in a line of cars all travelling at a reasonable speed, and twice some guy tried to undertake me, despite there being nowhere for him to go if he achieved his manoeuvre, the road narrows in sections, especially as you approach the traffic lights near the entrance to Marlay Park travelling towards Lidl from the Eden Pub, and the bus lane just ends abruptly, it is suicidal to attempt this undertaking and downright dangerous. Anyone know what the story is on this grey area? Some Taxi men use it as a race track also. Similar problem exists if travelling to and from the Dundrum Town Centre from Ballinteer, Bus Lane not in use being used for undertaking.

You are in the wrong lane and should be driving in the left lane. I have great fun driving past people on that road and they with big thick heads on them cause I'm getting past. But in saying that you have to give way to traffic on your right so need to be carefull when the lanes merge.

VERYinterested

I thought I had described the situation, but obviously not. I was in a line of traffic, all of us were moving at a reasonable speed, there were about 8 cars so it was a long line of cars. There was an insufficient gap in front of me for a car to pull in. I appreciate the need for cars to merge at a junction like a zip, but this is not applicable in this situation. It will take an accident to see whom the authorities blame, but it was quite hairy for me last night with someone trying to undertake me and with nowhere for him to go, stupid driving if you ask me. With regard to 'driving on the left' this is a case of everyone's out of step except me, as 99% of motorists avoid bus lanes as it is not always clear if it is 'in zone' ie not a 24 hour bus lane, outside of the 7am to 7pm rule or just 'not in use'. If there is a line of traffic moving at a reasonable speed is it not just as easy to stay in that lane and avoid causing an accident? You can be in the 'right' but be killed in an accident!

Vertakill

For the estate part.. I've noticed that as well and I honestly don't think people are completely aware of it and it's not road rageworthy enough to open your window and tell them, so they'll never know!

Sometimes I'll find that the other person has committed themselves to driving down the narrow lane before they've seen me, or vice versa, and we'll both have to do the opposite to the rules!

blackbox

I'm not familiar with the specific bus lane you mention, but normally when a bus lane has to merge with normal traffic there is a yield sign for the traffic in the bus lane. i.e. the traffic in the bus lane should give way to traffic in the other lane.

If the bus lane is not in use, technically you should be driving in it but this can be a right pain when nobody else does it and you have to keep yielding as above.

One thing that really annoys me is the small size of the lettering for the times when the bus lane is active. There is no way that anyone can see this until they get right up to it.

Another thing that annoys me is the fact that they use a continuous white line to mark out the bus lanes - this already had a meaning in road traffic regulations. Why on earth didn't they use a different colour?

...end of rant

Steve

VERYinterested wrote: »

Common sense but most SUV drivers appear to be exempt from this, I wonder why it is not mentioned in the Rules of the Road anymore as it is a pet hate of mine.

SUV drivers have more rights on the road than other drivers*

As you said, it's common sense. In my estate cars park on both sides effectively leaving only one lane to cover both directions. It can be interesting when there's more than one car going either driection.

I think if legislation / ROTR tried to cover every single situation like this that occurs in real life then it would remove the need for common sense and courtesy on the roads.
As more and more rules are written, more and more situations will arise where the rule doesn't quite work leading to more and more situations where the toys get thrown out of the pram.

Second one is a very dangerous habit that a few people have developed. In the last year the development of Taylor's Lane (Green Route) near the Eden Pub in Rathfarnham, has provided a lovely wide road and there are Bus Lanes provided but not in use. Last night I was in a line of cars all travelling at a reasonable speed, and twice some guy tried to undertake me, despite there being nowhere for him to go if he achieved his manoeuvre, the road narrows in sections, especially as you approach the traffic lights near the entrance to Marlay Park travelling towards Lidl from the Eden Pub, and the bus lane just ends abruptly, it is suicidal to attempt this undertaking and downright dangerous. Anyone know what the story is on this grey area? Some Taxi men use it as a race track also. Similar problem exists if travelling to and from the Dundrum Town Centre from Ballinteer, Bus Lane not in use being used for undertaking.

As Seamus said, if everyone were following the ROTR, there would actuallly be two lanes of traffic as the not in use bus lane is in effect a normal traffic lane.

I can't believe the amount of drivers that sit in queues beside bus lanes that are either non operational, or out of operational hours. Long may it continue though, I take great pleasure scooting past them.

chris85

blackbox wrote: »

Another thing that annoys me is the fact that they use a continuous white line to mark out the bus lanes - this already had a meaning in road traffic regulations. Why on earth didn't they use a different colour?

...end of rant

+1

I hate the continuous white lane meaning strictly you shouldnt be moving into it or out of it accross the continuous line. This means the keep left rule wouldnt work as if you needed to turn right further down the road you would need to cross the line in most cases

Marcus.Aurelius

SteveC wrote: »

I can't believe the amount of drivers that sit in queues beside bus lanes that are either non operational, or out of operational hours. Long may it continue though, I take great pleasure scooting past them.

+1 very useful, especially on quays in the city centre and around Dundrum town centre. I can't believe people can't read the signs at the beginning of the bus lane.

Is it ignorance or just some twisted sense of the "I'm fully entitled to drive however I like" mentality?

WHITE_P

On point one, the driver travelling on the side of the road where the obstruction is should yield, no matter what type of car they are driving.

Your problem with SUV's has nothing to do with the vehicle, and everything to do with the ignorant muppet driving it. Around the area you mention I would imagine most of these SUV drivers are yummy mummy's who would just as quickly driver over you in a normal car too.

I drive a 4x4 for work purposes and I find that you are as likely to be run off the road by a normal size car as any other vehicle, particularly on the narrow country roads I spend alot of time on.

The only reason I can think of that might justify a car driver (in their own mind) not moving over from the centre of the road for an oncoming 4x4, is the "he's in an off roader, let him move onto the ditch for me", as I might damage my car if I move over to my side of the road.

WHITE_P

Chief Admiral wrote: »

I can't believe people can't read the signs at the beginning of the bus lane.

Is it ignorance or just some twisted sense of the "I'm fully entitled to drive however I like" mentality?

Sheep who can't think for themselves and are too afraid to use the bus lanes even though they are legally entitled to.

Vic Mackay

VERYinterested wrote: »

I scoured the book when it arrived last year and could not find a mention of this first one. You are driving through an estate (or any road for that matter) there is a parked car on your side of the road and a car coming in the opposite direction. The blockage is on your side of the road, therefore you must yield to the oncoming car and then overtake the parked car when it is safe to do so. Common sense but most SUV drivers appear to be exempt from this, I wonder why it is not mentioned in the Rules of the Road anymore as it is a pet hate of mine.

Why would the ROTR say "N.B: SUV drivers are not exempt from this rule"?

VERYinterested

Maybe they are right having a continuous white line for the bus lane which means that people shouldn't be weaving in and out of them as it suits and becoming a hazard to other drivers, whether or not they are in use? The Bus Lane I refer to on Taylor's Lane is very different to those on the Quays. The road is divided in two in parts but narrows to one lane at various sections, and an undertaking car has no option but to try and bully it's way out past moving cars, a very hazardous practice. I genuinely felt I was going to be clattered from the side.

Don't get me wrong, if there are two lanes and one is not moving, by all means use the empty 'out of use' bus lane. But if a line of traffic is moving perfectly well, why try to undertake when you have not got a straight road ahead, only a road that narrows to one lane?

VERYinterested

Vic Mackay wrote: »

Why would the ROTR say "N.B: SUV drivers are not exempt from this rule"?

Eh, I meant the overall offence.

lightening

VERYinterested wrote: »

The road is divided in two in parts but narrows to one lane at various sections

Just let them merge if their nose is ahead of you. Blocking them by driving close to the car in front of you is silly. You will end up going home with a stress headache.

Steve

VERYinterested wrote: »

But if a line of traffic is moving perfectly well, why try to undertake when you have not got a straight road ahead, only a road that narrows to one lane?

Because they're ignorant discourteous assholes that have a 'God given right' to get where they're going faster than everyone else.:rolleyes:


IIRC, the yield priorities are not consistent on that stretch either, in some places the bus lane has priority, in others it has to yield. They changed the length of the bus lane near the scholarstown end roundabout as well - the original layout was madness.

Del2005

VERYinterested wrote: »

Don't get me wrong, if there are two lanes and one is not moving, by all means use the empty 'out of use' bus lane. But if a line of traffic is moving perfectly well, why try to undertake when you have not got a straight road ahead, only a road that narrows to one lane?

But there are 2 lanes of traffic here, an out of use bus lane and the normal traffic lane, everyone driving in the traffic lane is wrong as we drive on left overtake on right. Just cause someone sticks their hand in a fire will you? So why do you blindly follow the wrong lane on the road.

If someone is driving in an out of use bus lane they are prefectly entitled to drive past the traffic in the other lane if they are travelling at or below the speed limit, I've never seen a bus/taxi get done for undertakeing as it would remove the benefit of the bus lane. AFAIK, and I could be wrong, doesn't the thick white line seperates the bus lane from the main line traffic differently to the skinny line.

It's not up to you to police how they merge back. If they are ahead of you let them out if behind who cares. It's different if it's people being sneeky racing up an in service bus lane, block them in.

LegacyUser

As other have said. Depending on what side of the roads the parked cars are it denotes who has the right of way.If they are on yours then you yield. But if you are into the "overtaking" manouver then you have the right of way. Never heard of overtaking on the left being an offense? I have a UK license so that might be way. It is pretty standard in the UK provided you are in the left lane and doing the speed limit. What can you do if some spanner decided to do 50 in the outer lane

VERYinterested

You would really need to see the situation to appreciate it, it's not as cut and dried as it sounds. As it happened I didn't, and couldn't let him out or I would have collided with him and a traffic island. All he would have achieved was to get one car ahead of where he was, approaching a red light. It IS up to me to police avoiding a collision with my vehicle, I was not the aggressor in this instance. He was level with me and had not a hope of out running me, two lanes merging in to one, with a red light ahead. Why would I have to let an ignorant fool back in front of me who had no good reason to be in that lane in the first place? It is obvious that nobody is sure of the rule on this judging by the answers that have been posted, I'm sorry I asked. I disagree that it is the norm in this country to drive in the Bus lane when they are not in use and I am the one in the wrong for not using it. I can't believe that some people think it is the norm to allow an idiot to break the speed limit in a built up area close to a public park to overtake other vehicles on the inside, this road is not a dual carriageway and as far as I can see the partial Bus lane was introduced as a speed control measure. But it has backfired, there are only two buses that use this stretch of road, the 16 and the 161, both are very infrequent.

lightening

VERYinterested wrote: »

All he would have achieved was to get one car ahead of where he was

Well, then, just let him merge.

VERYinterested wrote: »

It IS up to me to police avoiding a collision with my vehicle, I was not the aggressor in this instance. He was level with me and had not a hope of out running me, two lanes merging in to one, with a red light ahead.

All you had to do was slow down and let him merge.

VERYinterested

Why should I? Do you let people who sneak up the bus lanes merge in front of you? It is exactly the same type of irritating, inconsiderate, dangerous behaviour and I will not be bullied off the road by an idiot that is breaking the law, that's why I didn't let him merge.

Del2005

VERYinterested wrote: »

Why should I? Do you let people who sneak up the bus lanes merge in front of you? It is exactly the same type of irritating, inconsiderate, dangerous behaviour and I will not be bullied off the road by an idiot that is breaking the law, that's why I didn't let him merge.

The person didn't sneak up the bus lane, they where in the driving lane and you where in the wrong lane, as has been said before.

We drive on the left here, not the lane beside the open to all traffic bus lane. If the bus lane was in operation then I would make it difficult for them to get out, but since the bus lane there isn't open then depending on where they where I would have let them out.

Why are you getting so worked up over someone gaining 1 place on you?

VERYinterested

Del2005 wrote: »

The person didn't sneak up the bus lane, they where in the driving lane and you where in the wrong lane, as has been said before.

We drive on the left here, not the lane beside the open to all traffic bus lane. If the bus lane was in operation then I would make it difficult for them to get out, but since the bus lane there isn't open then depending on where they where I would have let them out.

Why are you getting so worked up over someone gaining 1 place on you?

I didn't get that worked up to be honest, even though I could have been in an accident, but I am getting worked up reading posts by people like yourself that aren't really sure what they are talking about or the piece of road in question, as many people said that it was illegal to undertake as said it was legal, so I don't know where you're getting that I and ALL the other cars were in the wrong lane.

I phoned the Gardai in Rathfarnham and they said there should be no undertaking on that stretch of road as it is extremely dangerous and unsuitable and illegal to do so, and they have had random checks in place to deter the speed merchants. Thanks everyone for the replies, sensible or otherwise.

WHITE_P

VERYinterested wrote: »

I am getting worked up reading posts by people like yourself that aren't really sure what they are talking about or the piece of road in question, as many people said that it was illegal to undertake as said it was legal, so I don't know where you're getting that I and ALL the other cars were in the wrong lane.

I wouldn't get too bothered by any posts, especially if the posters don't know the road or exact situation you found yourself in. I posted awhile back about a potentially very dangerous situation at a junction on the N2 north of Ashbourne and got some very negative / stupid replies that specifically mentioned a junction on the N3 approx. 10 miles to the west of the location I was talking about.

Esel

chris85 wrote: »

I hate the continuous white lane meaning strictly you shouldnt be moving into it or out of it accross the continuous line.

Not so. The thick white line merely marks the bus lane. Traffic can cross this line legally.

VERYinterested wrote: »

Maybe they are right having a continuous white line for the bus lane which means that people shouldn't be weaving in and out of them as it suits and becoming a hazard to other drivers

If it is out of hours, it is not a bus lane. Traffic is supposed to use it then. You know the way that before junctions the bus lane often ends, and continues again shortly after the junction? This is to encourage traffic to use both lanes, and merge again after the junction. As a result, more vehicles get through the junction before the lights go red. Simple, really. Can you not visualise the traffic build-up that happens when others behave as you do and do not use these lanes?

VERYinterested wrote: »

You would really need to see the situation to appreciate it, it's not as cut and dried as it sounds. As it happened I didn't, and couldn't let him out or I would have collided with him and a traffic island. ..... Why would I have to let an ignorant fool back in front of me who had no good reason to be in that lane in the first place? .....

If it was a bus, would you have yielded? No? If the bus had edged out, would you then have yielded? I'd bet yes. Why should it be different just because it's a car?

VERYinterested wrote: »

Why should I? Do you let people who sneak up the bus lanes merge in front of you? It is exactly the same type of irritating, inconsiderate, dangerous behaviour and I will not be bullied off the road by an idiot that is breaking the law, that's why I didn't let him merge.

I think you are the one with the problem, not the 'idiot' who 'sneaks up the bus lanes' and who you think is breaking the law, but actually isn't.

VERYinterested

VERYinterested wrote: »

I phoned the Gardai in Rathfarnham and they said there should be no undertaking on that stretch of road as it is extremely dangerous and unsuitable and illegal to do so, and they have had random checks in place to deter the speed merchants. Thanks everyone for the replies, sensible or otherwise.

Eh, I thought this had put all these stupid replies about me being in the wrong to bed, read all the posts you will see a vehicle tried to undertake me, why should I yield to him, like has been said by other posters, it is very difficult for people to visualise the situation especially when they can't absorb facts, but just want to prove some petty point and now it appears even the Gardai are wrong. I better go and give myself ten lashes for upsetting you. :rolleyes:

cyclopath2001

esel wrote:

As a result, more vehicles get through the junction before the lights go red.

Surely you mean amber?

L1011

esel wrote: »

Not so. The thick white line merely marks the bus lane. Traffic can cross this line legally.

Precisely. The minimum width of a bus lane demarcation line is *wider* than the maximum width of a solid white line to show 'do not cross'.

Del2005

VERYinterested wrote: »

I didn't get that worked up to be honest, even though I could have been in an accident, but I am getting worked up reading posts by people like yourself that aren't really sure what they are talking about or the piece of road in question, as many people said that it was illegal to undertake as said it was legal, so I don't know where you're getting that I and ALL the other cars were in the wrong lane.

I know the road in question and I've driven it many a time. I get strange looks off people driving in the wrong lane as I drive up the out of service bus lane past them. When I reach the end of the lanes I merge with traffic, I judge the gaps and move in. Some people try and block me, but I just wait. It's not my fault that people can't read and will blindly follow the car in front of them.

I phoned the Gardai in Rathfarnham and they said there should be no undertaking on that stretch of road as it is extremely dangerous and unsuitable and illegal to do so, and they have had random checks in place to deter the speed merchants. Thanks everyone for the replies, sensible or otherwise.

You do of course know there over taking on the left is against the law, so of course the Gardai are going to say that. But that raises the question why do they allow buses and taxis to do this ever day of the week.

VERYinterested wrote: »

Eh, I thought this had put all these stupid replies about me being in the wrong to bed, read all the posts you will see a vehicle tried to undertake me, why should I yield to him, like has been said by other posters, it is very difficult for people to visualise the situation especially when they can't absorb facts, but just want to prove some petty point and now it appears even the Gardai are wrong. I better go and give myself ten lashes for upsetting you. :rolleyes:

Did you tell the Gardai that you where in the wrong lane? If you where in the correct lane no-one would have tried to untake you as they wouldn't have the option. You where in the outside lane of a 2 lane road.

Oh wait a minute aren't we barred from talking about this!

VERYinterested

Del2005 wrote: »

I know the road in question and I've driven it many a time. I get strange looks off people driving in the wrong lane as I drive up the out of service bus lane past them. When I reach the end of the lanes I merge with traffic, I judge the gaps and move in. Some people try and block me, but I just wait. It's not my fault that people can't read and will blindly follow the car in front of them.

So you at least had the manners to allow the car in the 'wrong' lane to continue on without trying to bully them off the road, that's noble of you, why don't you report them to the Gradai for dangerous driving? Pity the idiot undertaking me hadn't the same manners, ignoring the Yield sign and paint at the end of the bus lane, but sure they don't count when the bus lane is not in use!! When you drive past people on the inside, are you keeping within the 50kph speed limit, or would you have to go at say 80kph? I am delighted now that I wouldn't let him merge as some other person wanted me to, there was plenty of room behind me to merge, and that's what he did, near shat himself when he saw the road in front disappearing. I wouldn't like to be in your shoes nipping up the inside of people if they decide to pull over unexpectedly for some reason. Little old lady, not expecting someone to be undertaking on a road that is not a dual carriageway.

Del2005 wrote: »

You do of course know there over taking on the left is against the law, so of course the Gardai are going to say that. But that raises the question why do they allow buses and taxis to do this ever day of the week.

The Garda laughed his head off when I told him that people on here had misinterpreted the keep to the left law, and were suggesting that we all meander in and out of Bus Lanes after 7pm or whenever they were not in use. He said, "what next, will they be driving in Cycle Lanes and Hard Shoulders". He had never heard anything as ridiculous in his life. The erratic nature and layout of bus lanes makes it impossible to adhere to this mad suggestion, his words, not mine. I explained the full scenario to him and he said I was in the correct lane, driving with due care and attention, what you and the fool the other night are doing is dangerous driving and they have prosecuted other errant motorists on this stretch of road and will continue to do, hope you don't get caught.

Del2005 wrote: »

Did you tell the Gardai that you where in the wrong lane? If you where in the correct lane no-one would have tried to untake you as they wouldn't have the option. You where in the outside lane of a 2 lane road.

See answer above :rolleyes: If there isn't a Bus Lane, there is hatched area on this road, I suppose it's ok to overtake on the hatched area also? Or should we be driving in that section of the road and not the part they specifically provide for cars?

Not sure what you mean about being barred talking about undertaking, was this another discussion that got out of hand and was locked? Not surprised, the suggestion that we all hug the kerb at all times is laughable at best, no wonder it got locked.

golfpaul

You are entitled to use the bus lane outside of the times signposted on the lane. Taken from the ROTR:
"Where there is a bus lane, you will see an upright blue and white sign on the side of the road on a pole and on the roadway there will be markings of a continuous white line and the words "Lána Bus". You must obey the road marking and the sign. The white plate shows when the section of road is meant only for the buses shown. Normally bus lanes operate from 7am to 7pm or during peak hours. Outside these times, all traffic may use them. You should check the information plate to confirm the time limits that apply."

I'm surprised to say that garda did not know what he was talking about when refering to bus lanes. I don't know the particular lane you are talking about so I won't comment on your situation. I will always use the bus lane along the quays outside of operating hours as it moves quicker. And taken from ROTR you can overtake on the left when:
"You want to go straight ahead when the driver in front of you has moved out and signalled that they intend to turn right.
You have signalled that you intend to turn left.
Traffic in both lanes is moving slowly and traffic in the left-hand lane is moving more quickly than the traffic in the right-hand lane."

lightening

VERYinterested wrote: »

I am delighted now that I wouldn't let him merge as some other person wanted me to, there was plenty of room behind me to merge, and that's what he did, near shat himself when he saw the road in front disappearing

I think you need to take a more mature approach to your driving. Let people merge in front of you, don't try and race them to the end of the lane.

VERYinterested

The confusion surrounding this situation is simple really, I will try and explain it better, you are of course allowed to use the bus lanes when they are not in use or after hours but the section I refer to is located between the Eden Pub and the traffic signals before you enter Marlay Park heading towards Lidl from The Eden Pub. It is about 200 yards in length. I was in a line of traffic, of 7 or 8 cars, I was the last car in the line of traffic, it was about 9pm, no delays or traffic jams, we were all travelling along nicely 50 - 55 kph in a 50 kph limit, no slow cars then some numpty decides to try and undertake the line of cars on the inside in this 200 yard bus lane that is not in use. He tried booting it up the inside of us and 200 yards is not a big enough space to undertake 8 cars and he very quickly ran out of space as the road narrows to one lane before a set of traffic lights. He drew level with me at one stage and I was afraid he would crash in to the side of my car. I kept driving at the same speed as I could see he was realising the folly of his manoeuvre. There were no gaps in front of me or the car in front that he could pull in to as we were all driving along minding our own business. So he had to brake and merge in behind me, where he had come from. Would you allow a rude person to skip in front of you in a queue in a shop, just because they thought they had a right to skip you for no reason.

I was merely asking what the grey area was surrounding this situation and to date nobody has been able to explain it properly apart from people saying that me and the 8 cars should all have pulled over in to the bus lane and continue to do so all along this road as it meanders along, we were in the wrong lane and that we should have allowed ourselves to be undertaken as we were in the wrong, at least that's what I think they are saying. The Garda knew the specific piece of road I was talking about and they have concerns over it.

Lightening, the person that should adapt the more mature approach is the person that almost caused an accident, just accept that your diagnosis is wrong in this instance, he should not have tried to skip in front of us on the inside, he tried, he hadn't enough space, not my problem, I won't make allowances for rude and dangerous drivers.

lightening

VERYinterested wrote: »

I kept driving at the same speed as I could see he was realising the folly of his manoeuvre.

I just would have slowed down and let him in to avoid an accident, I would not have maintained my speed just to block him. He could have been drunk, stoned, a doctor on his way to a patient, a worried parent on his way to an accident, an inexperienced driver or simply a lunatic. There is a chance that when you crashed in to him he had no insurance or he could have got violent. I would relax and not try and police the roads. Your journey would have been extended by about three seconds.

VERYinterested

lightening wrote: »

I just would have slowed down and let him in to avoid an accident, I would not have maintained my speed just to block him. He could have been drunk, stoned, a doctor on his way to a patient, a worried parent on his way to an accident, an inexperienced driver or simply a lunatic. There is a chance that when you crashed in to him he had no insurance or he could have got violent. I would relax and not try and police the roads. Your journey would have been extended by about three seconds.

Ah I don't know, it's no harm to have a little bit of sport also, makes the day go quicker

Thanks all for input, I know the answer to my questions, off on holiday now.

lightening

VERYinterested wrote: »

Thanks all for input, I know the answer to my questions, off on holiday now.

Hey, have a good one! I hope your going to Italy, sounds like you would like their style of driving!!!

Esel

Some random Garda laughed his head off.......a load of random people on Boards laughed their heads off.

wil

golfpaul wrote: »

.
Traffic in both lanes is moving slowly and traffic in the left-hand lane is moving more quickly than the traffic in the right-hand lane."

The Irish ROTR is quite badly written and worded.
But even so you avoided noticing the important condition is MOVING SLOWLY, not as in haring down the empty bus lane when the traffic is getting a bit heavy.

BUS Lanes, in or out of use are NOT overtaking lanes.
Taxis seem to think otherwise.

Even if the car in front is in the right hand lane, beside an out of hours bus lane, you dont automatically have a right to undertake him.

Even if they are crawling, you should politely give them the opportunity to pull in.
Somewhere Irish drivers got the idea that the person going fastest has right of way. R.I.P

wil

Fingers Mc Gee wrote: »

Never heard of overtaking on the left being an offense? I have a UK license so that might be way. It is pretty standard in the UK provided you are in the left lane and doing the speed limit.

Where on earth did you learn, the Falklands?

It is absolutely an offence in the UK and has always been, and it is not standard to do it. I think you been driving here too long.:(

sickpuppy32

bet he's still a better driver than the one i met today on the carlow by-pass going the wrong way on the outside lane!

wil

sickpuppy32 wrote: »

bet he's still a better driver than the one i met today on the carlow by-pass going the wrong way on the outside lane!

:eek::eek::eek:
A bit like this one on egdirB llennoC'O nilbuD

Our man in Havana

wil wrote: »

:eek::eek::eek:
A bit like this one on egdirB llennoC'O nilbuD

Jesus H Christ. What a dumbass.

Esel

Bond-007 wrote: »

Jesus H Christ. What a dumbass.

But he's got a UK license. And it's better than an Irish one. So there.

wil

esel wrote: »

But he's got a UK license. And it's better than an Irish one. So there.

By far:D

But how can you tell from that picture?

Actually that kamikazi happened during Operation Freeflow IIRC. The garda at the other end of the traffic island completely ignored what was going on, cars beeping, people shouting, it wasnt till a Dublin bus driver who narrowly missed hitting her and shouted at the garda to do something.
Lo and behold the forgiving guard, stopped the traffic and directed her on her meandering way on the correct side of the road.
Who says we dont have effective enforcement here?:pac::rolleyes:

So far I've witnessed people crossing the Liffey on the wrong side, in full view of the gardai on only 3 occasions.:eek:

I'm not around there that often.:eek::eek::eek: