Nearly got creamed on the mway from Athlone

Tea drinker

Was driving back to Dublin from Athlone this evening, I was almost totalled by an asshole driving the wrong way. I was in the fast lane at about 70, he was in the same lane as me. I didn't see him until he was almost on top of me, managed somehow to swerve around him.
I actually dont know how I got around him, I changed channel on the stereo, looked back up and there is a car bearing down on me about 4 - 6 lenghts from me.

Bastard nearly had me, he didn't move left or right, just kept going straight. Caused mayhem behind me as well. Called the guards and they had a car out straight away but he was gone - I dunno where.
It was even on the radio, to watch out for a car between athlone and ballinasloe - which means he got past the guards or the Radio was wrong.

What a d1ck.

Tea drinker

I didn't have time to think what to do or to play chicken, or even to think why is there headlights? It was just HEADLIGHTS! MOVE!
Otherwise a 70mph head on is mise mairbh

A neighbour of mine went senile years ago and had to be hauled off a dual carraigeway, but about tonight, from chatting to the guards he seemed to think it could be a joyrider. If it was a joyrider the only thing he should drive is a wheelchair... I'm even a bit sus he had his lights turned off then lit up as I got close. But I dunno.

Barr

Tea drinker wrote: »

Was driving back to Dublin from Athlone this evening, I was almost totalled by an asshole driving the wrong way. I was in the fast lane at about 70, he was in the same lane as me. I didn't see him until he was almost on top of me, managed somehow to swerve around him.
I actually dont know how I got around him, I changed channel on the stereo, looked back up and there is a car bearing down on me about 4 - 6 lenghts from me.

Bastard nearly had me, he didn't move left or right, just kept going straight. Caused mayhem behind me as well. Called the guards and they had a car out straight away but he was gone - I dunno where.
It was even on the radio, to watch out for a car between athlone and ballinasloe - which means he got past the guards or the Radio was wrong.

What a d1ck.

Jaysus that must have been scary - at least you had the good reaction to swerve and keep control (many would'nt)

Seth Brundle

Christ, someone like this should be done for attempted manslaughter!

Tea drinker wrote: »

Otherwise a 70mph head on is mise mairbh

more like 140mph head on assuming both of you are doing this speed!

jenzz

Poor Jen nearly got creamed quite ironicly by a recovery truck on M50 just past Dundrum turn off this afternoon, look , indicate , manouver dont just pull into me ! Seriously nearly wet myself !! The new brakes were savage though as was the horn !

samsemtex

It was probably Jim McDaid. Must have been running from the ex wife again.

Skyuser

Tea drinker wrote: »

I was in the fast lane at about 70

Don't you mean the overtaking lane. You weren't there just because you were going fast?

delly

Skyuser wrote: »

Don't you mean the overtaking lane. You weren't there just because you were going fast?

As soon as I read the OP's post, i knew someone would point that out :rolleyes:

SV

bit of a gobshíte going the opposite way alright, what were ya doing sitting in the overtaking lane anyway?

Savman

Same thing happened me on the same stretch of road over Xmas. Only for a Truck Driver flashing me I was a goner :eek:

SteelyDanJalapeno

Glad your okay anyway op,



P.S. All motorway lanes have the same speed limit, no such thing as a fast lane.

daRobot

Some of you need to get a grip on yourselves.....seriously.

A guy narrowly avoids a near fatal collision, and you want to educate him on his lane choice? Truly pathetic.

OP - Fair play for having quick reactions! Glad you're ok.

monster1

daRobot wrote: »

Some of you need to get a grip on yourselves.....seriously.

A guy narrowly avoids a near fatal collision, and you want to educate him on his lane choice? Truly pathetic.

OP - Fair play for having quick reactions! Glad you're ok.

totally agree, the usual here..

SoupyNorman

Tea drinker wrote: »

Was driving back to Dublin from Athlone this evening, I was almost totalled by an asshole driving the wrong way. I was in the fast lane at about 70, he was in the same lane as me. I didn't see him until he was almost on top of me, managed somehow to swerve around him.
I actually dont know how I got around him, I changed channel on the stereo, looked back up and there is a car bearing down on me about 4 - 6 lenghts from me.

Bastard nearly had me, he didn't move left or right, just kept going straight. Caused mayhem behind me as well. Called the guards and they had a car out straight away but he was gone - I dunno where.
It was even on the radio, to watch out for a car between athlone and ballinasloe - which means he got past the guards or the Radio was wrong.

What a d1ck.

Fair play man, your reaction sounded spot on. Another person could have frozen. I drove from Limerick to Dublin last night and it was exhausting, the conditions coupled with oncoming drivers overtaking lorries forcing me into the hard shoulder...especially bad between Limerick and Nenagh. I made a point of it to take it handy due to the the sideways rain. I dont know why people cant slow down to 80kph or less in terrible conditions, it seems to make sense to me!

cul-2008

daRobot wrote: »

Some of you need to get a grip on yourselves.....seriously.

A guy narrowly avoids a near fatal collision, and you want to educate him on his lane choice? Truly pathetic.

OP - Fair play for having quick reactions! Glad you're ok.

+1...I thoroughly agree, some people around here just can't pass up on an opportunity to point fault.

OP, talk about your life flashing in front of you! Fair play to you for reacting so quickly, you saved your own life as well as the life of that tool driving towards you too! Glad things didn't turn out for the worse.

cazze

you are a lucky person:eek:

i hope this idiot was caught, these kind of people should be locked up and the keys thrown away

kayos

Thank god you reacted in time. Its people like this that should be stopped dragged out of the car and beaten stupid while the cops look on and then step in to arrest them and do them.

Honestly I've had the same on a dual carriage way but a motorway? That would be one hell of a smash two head on cars at 70-75mph... I dont care what NCAP rating your car has thats going to be a serious crash unless you were in anythign other than a tank.

As for the "its not the fast lane its the overtaking lane" crew yes you are right but come on.... I suppose some people always find fault.

R.O.R

kbannon wrote: »

Christ, someone like this should be done for attempted manslaughter!


more like 140mph head on assuming both of you are doing this speed!

+1

On his way home from my wedding (sober), a collegue of my wife's was unlucky enough to be in a similar situation on the N7 outbound. Due to very thick fog he wasn't able to react in time to the drunk in a 4x4 on the wrong side of the carriageway. End result being a dual fatality - not the nicest thing to hear when you land back after your honeymoon.

Vim Fuego

Wow, that's shocking. I'm glad you lived to tell the tale. As others have said, the person responsible should be locked up.

Drummerboy08

I somehow doubt this lad will be caught. He was porbably sitting in his local last night laughing about it.

leon8v

Well done on your reactions! could have been much worse, maybe you should buy a Euromillions ticket tonight!!

Quazzie

You think your bad. I was on the motorway out of Athlone last night and everyone was going the wrong way.:eek:

Tea drinker

Thanks for the replies folks - I was lucky for sure - the hand of god or Diego Maradonna I dunno who to thank!

That's good advice about the lotto ticket!

Wing Walker

What is it with this stretch of motorway? Same thing happened to me some months back. Happily driving 'round one of the long bends (in the inside lane) and what comes up against me? An old fecker in a 4x4 in the outside lane. Flashed my lights at him and absolutely no reaction. As he was "driving" past me, he had the window open, elbow resting on the door and looking relaxed as anything!!!:mad:

By the way, yes it's the overtaking lane. But I can totally understand the OP's post. If it was me and I'd just missed being killed by about 30 metres, I'd be calling it the "hmmana hmmana WTF" lane!

Can any locals from the Athlone area explain if there is something different about the on/off ramps for the dual carriage ways/motorways in the area? Not a sarcastic question. Perhaps it's something (if there's anything) that the Council/NRA need to made aware of.

Zube

Wing Walker wrote: »

Can any locals from the Athlone area explain if there is something different about the on/off ramps for the dual carriage ways/motorways in the area? Not a sarcastic question. Perhaps it's something (if there's anything) that the Council/NRA need to made aware of.

No, they are perfectly normal. There are two factors:

1) The OP met a joyrider, by the sounds of it. The reason the joyrider lived is that the M6 is possibly the emptiest motorway in Ireland.

2) It's a new road in the middle of the bog. Many of the locals (like the one you met) who only drive from their farm to Mass have never been on a motorway before.

Quazzie

Probably the most idiotic thing I have read on boards. EVER!

So people from athlone only go from their farm to mass. Are you for real?? Thats borderline racist and definitely ignorant. If someone is driving a car on a public road it is assumed that they know the rules of the road. This applies to everyone whether they are from the inner city Dublin or Hicksville Westmeath.

Zube

Quazzie2002 wrote: »

So people from athlone only go from their farm to mass. Are you for real??

Yes, I'm even from Athlone.

Quazzie

Zube wrote: »

Yes, I'm even from Athlone.

And presumably live on a farm then!!

Zube

Quazzie2002 wrote: »

And presumably live on a farm then!!

We in Athlone have had a dual carriageway since 1988. The boggers I'm talking about are the Neanderthals in Westmeath along the route of the new M6.

You know the type, they are afraid to drive to Dublin, always take the train for Christmas shopping, park wherever the car rolls to a halt in Moate, drive a diesel Jetta completely covered in cowsh1t towing a few lambs and a bale of hay in an unlit trailer, never use lights to save on batteries, can't see out the back window for Padre Pio stickers, drive at 70 kph no matter what the speed limit, town or open road, never heard of indicators and are never seen driving without their flat cap on.

BArra

lol

Tea drinker

Zube wrote: »

No, they are perfectly normal. There are two factors:

1) The OP met a joyrider, by the sounds of it. The reason the joyrider lived is that the M6 is possibly the emptiest motorway in Ireland.

....

Wing Walkers suggestion is still worth following up - I sent a mail to NRA just now - no harm to have a check if there is an issue.

I *suspect* he came down an off ramp to get onto the mway, judging by how he just appeared in front of me and the proximity of an off ramp - I actually stopped just past the foot of it.

Stky10

Something about athlone....

About 2 months ago I saw someone local going the wrong way around the roundabout in front of Kilmartins garage.

BnA

Zube wrote: »

We in Athlone have had a dual carriageway since 1988. The boggers I'm talking about are the Neanderthals in Westmeath along the route of the new M6.

You know the type, they are afraid to drive to Dublin, always take the train for Christmas shopping, park wherever the car rolls to a halt in Moate, drive a diesel Jetta completely covered in cowsh1t towing a few lambs and a bale of hay in an unlit trailer, never use lights to save on batteries, can't see out the back window for Padre Pio stickers, drive at 70 kph no matter what the speed limit, town or open road, never heard of indicators and are never seen driving without their flat cap on.

Sounds like someone I'd rather talk to than a jumped up twat from Athlone.

Cionád

BnA wrote: »

Sounds like someone I'd rather talk to than a jumped up twat from Athlone.

Get yourself a sense of humour. :rolleyes:

Drummerboy08

Zube wrote: »

We in Athlone have had a dual carriageway since 1988. The boggers I'm talking about are the Neanderthals in Westmeath along the route of the new M6.

You know the type, they are afraid to drive to Dublin, always take the train for Christmas shopping, park wherever the car rolls to a halt in Moate, drive a diesel Jetta completely covered in cowsh1t towing a few lambs and a bale of hay in an unlit trailer, never use lights to save on batteries, can't see out the back window for Padre Pio stickers, drive at 70 kph no matter what the speed limit, town or open road, never heard of indicators and are never seen driving without their flat cap on.

I bet he looks like this

http://www.picasaweb.google.com/.../G08-Jn3nT15RwBzbjzHeKA

Matt Simis

Quazzie2002 wrote: »

You think your bad. I was on the motorway out of Athlone last night and everyone was going the wrong way.:eek:

LOL, for some reason such an obvious joke just seems so funny in the context of the thread.


To OP, any idea at all of the car type?

Terra

Sounds like the need too put in big signs with neon lights on the on ramps saying wrong way!!! turn back or something.

I have seen a few people in athlone going the wrong way onto the motorway....

The just turn down onto the on ramp without thinking from the bridges.

It's happening so often something needs too be done before there is a serious accident.

Omcd

Motorway junctions I think can be very confusing to some elderly motorists who are probably just about at the end of their driving careers.

I came across a strong candidate for such on the Curragh racecourse motorway junction a couple of days ago. I'd just come across the bridge to go onto the roundabout to join the motorway Dublin bound. The roundabout is a large single lane 5 exit and one entry only one. At the end of the bridge there was a queue of cars stopped because an old lady had stopped on the roundabout at that exit seemly confused and the drivers waiting to enter did not know why she stopped whether she was letting them on or what. So, eventually she starts chugging forward again, and proceeds to chug around the large roundabout at 10 - 15 mph with a queue of cars behind. Eventually, she gets around to halfway between the exit for Dublin bound motorway on ramp and the exit she had been originally stopped at, and trys to turn off the roundabout, then realises shes between exits, stops in the middle of the roundabout again, and then as I'm exiting the roundabout for the motorway I she her going into reverse, and as I'm going down the on ramp I she her reversing back around the roundabout :eek: I think she was trying to get on the motorway PortLaoise bound, but didnt understand that she needed to cross the motorway bridge and use the roundabout on the other side, so everytime she got in sight of what she thought should be the on ramp for Portlaoise bound, but was actually the off ramp from Dublin bound, she was, luckily, seeing the no entry signs, or the 'exit' filled with traffic entering the roundabout, and then getting completely confused as to where she should go. Or maybe she was trying to get on Dublin bound and just kept missing the on ramp exit. I seriously hope she didnt eventually go down the Dublin bound entry ramp and turn right at the bottom. And if she did get on the motorway going the correct way I hope she managed to do a bit more than 15mph.

I'm using on ramp/off ramp terminology in respect of the motorway, Terra above seems to be using the terminology the other way around - or going the wrong way:pac:

I also saw someone turning the wrong way onto the Naas Road from a garage somewhere between Rathcoole and Kill a few years ago.

OP's experience I agree sounds like a joyrider - unless it was the little ole lady from Pasadena chasing down her marbles.

Rovi

My brother is in the emergency services, and he tells me it's apparently quite a well known phenomenon; a new motorway strikes through what used to be a quite rural area, and people who've never driven anywhere much outside their home parish are plunged into confusion.
An education campaign in the local papers and local radio in the lead up to the grand opening and for a year or two afterwards would do a lot to reduce it, in my opinion.

ardmacha

If a new road arrives in your area you are under no obligation to use it!

It is not just yokels. The AA report on today's news noted that people were reversing back along the motorway or the slips when they found themselves in the wrong lane at the new setup at the m50/n3. Madness.

Cionád

ardmacha wrote: »

It is not just yokels. The AA report on today's news noted that people were reversing back along the motorway or the slips when they found themselves in the wrong lane at the new setup at the m50/n3. Madness.

http://www.aaireland.ie/publicaffairs/press-centre/motorway-madness.aspx

"Motorway Madness: a week of near-misses caused by ludicrous drivers

Friday 30th January 2009

Innocent drivers narrowly avoided disaster on two of Ireland's motorways this week as reckless behaviour could easily have lead to a serious crash.

The most alarming incident took place yesterday evening (Thursday) on the M6 between Moate and Athlone. AA Roadwatch and the Garda received numerous reports of a car driving in the wrong direction along the carriageway. The car travelled at least 12 kilometers on the wrong side of the motorway (unconfirmed reports included sightings as far east as Kilbeggan), causing chaos and panic to oncoming traffic. Garda arrived quickly but the motorist had gone.

"This was absolute insanity." Says Director of Policy Conor Faughnan. "It's is very lucky that no-one was seriously hurt."

This followed a separate incident on Wednesday when a few motorists were confused by the new road layout at junction 6 Blanchardstown on the M50. Incredibly, a number of motorists attempted to reverse on the M50 having missed the Southbound exit.

"I'd like to say that this type of thing is rare, but it's obviously not rare enough." Says Faughnan. "Most drivers have more sense. But those unfamiliar with motorways can be prone to panic, and they can be very intimidating places for the inexperienced driver."

Extensive motorways are relatively new in Ireland. Following the investments of the last 15 years the country is just beginning to have a continuous network. The problem is that many motorists don’t know how to use them properly.

Motorway driving is not currently taught to learner drivers, and we also have huge numbers of motorists who learned to drive in the era before the high-speed modern motorways of today’s Ireland.”

In a research survey carried out by the AA last November, 5,300 motorists responded and 84% reported that seeing cars cruising in the outside lane of the Motorway was a ‘common or daily’ occurrence. 9% admitted to doing it themselves.

"Drivers should never use the outside lane for cruising. You do not enter it unless there is a specific need to – for overtaking or to allow oncoming traffic to merge."

By the end of 2010 Ireland as large a proportion of Motorways on the road network as is the case in the UK"

DubTony

Blame the council planners, and the ridiculous and cheap roundabouts constructed at motorway junctions.
I travelled from Firhouse to Lucan one Sunday morning about 10 years ago, and saw an old couple coming down the off ramp from the Red Cow roundabout. They hit the bottom of the ramp and thankfully noticed they were going the wrong way and turned and headed in the right direction on the M50. 45 minutes later, on the way back, I took the red cow to go to Crumlin, there they were attempting to turn down the off ramp I was coming up. If all m-way junctions were freeflow it would be as good as impossible to go in the wrong direction.

I agree with Zubes comments. I moved to Westmeath just over a year ago and the standard of driving is atrocious. It's not unusual to come upon somebody on the M4 doing 50km/h.

VanhireBoys

I use that piece of motorway quite often OP.. I can just imagine the blind panic you felt.. Glad you were able to avoid the carnage.

I use the motorway system quite a bit in the UK as well... Everyone drives at 70mph - If that idiot came down the wrong way of the M6 he would last about 30secs before he would be in a bodybag along with at least 30 others.

I wouldnt consider myself as a road captain but the driving standard in this country is absolutely desperate. I feel safer driving in the UK as evryone drives to the road conditions and rules. They even check their mirrors, indicate, drive to the speed limit, Know their roundabouts, dont tailgate and surprise surprise show a bit of courtesey.

Buffman

Zube wrote: »

You know the type, they are afraid to drive to Dublin, always take the train for Christmas shopping, park wherever the car rolls to a halt in Moate, drive a diesel Jetta completely covered in cowsh1t towing a few lambs and a bale of hay in an unlit trailer, never use lights to save on batteries, can't see out the back window for Padre Pio stickers, drive at 70 kph no matter what the speed limit, town or open road, never heard of indicators and are never seen driving without their flat cap on.

Brillaint description, they are out there still.:eek:

Good job at avoiding certain death OP, hope your gonna do the euromillions:)

Tea drinker

Matt Simis wrote: »

......
To OP, any idea at all of the car type?

The type that has 2 "squarish" headlights (dipped) ! It was a car rather than jeep/van, I'd *guess* mid sized saloon. Really didn't see much, even looking back after I stopped it was difficult to make out a type, too far away at that stage, though for some reason I think the tailights were high (hatchback)

BTW I'll let you know if/when I hear from NRA.