worst/most dangerous driving roads in ireland

twincamman

just wondering what people think these roads are,mine would be,mallow to fermoy road in co.cork.also mallow to mitchelstown is dangerous

carly_86

Try any road in co.tipperary

Spiritoftheseventies

carly_86 wrote: »

Try any road in co.tipperary

any road with a blackspot sign i would imagine

aido 1976

Majority of roads around Co.Wexford / Wicklow. Excluding the N11

galwaytt

...drove through Buttevant this am, on the way home. FFS, that place is a scandal - been like that for..........as long as I can remember....

R348 to Loughrea another peach

TestTransmission

Borrisokane to Birr N52,deffo one of the worst ive ever drove

galwaytt

..we were actually talking about this on the way home - we are now at 3rd World road quality. Considering my car tax is Eur 1290 ono, it's a fuggin' outrage. I actually brought the car to a complete stop, and crossed over the road to avoid some parts. The Co Co road dept should be hauled up on negligence charges, and the RSA and NRA too, imho.

And, is it on me, but that urban roads are now even more neglected, and less likely to fixed.......(Gort comes to mind.....)

Spiritoftheseventies

galwaytt wrote: »

..we were actually talking about this on the way home - we are now at 3rd World road quality. Considering my car tax is Eur 1290 ono, it's a fuggin' outrage. I actually brought the car to a complete stop, and crossed over the road to avoid some parts. The Co Co road dept should be hauled up on negligence charges, and the RSA and NRA too, imho.

And, is it on me, but that urban roads are now even more neglected, and less likely to fixed.......(Gort comes to mind.....)

on same subjects do people in country find it hard to drive on dark roads.

AugustusMaximus

Section of the ring of Kerry between Cahirciveen and Sneem. Its truly awful for a national secondary route.

Berty

Limerick to Thurles is a very dangerous road.

sogood

galwaytt wrote: »

..we were actually talking about this on the way home - we are now at 3rd World road quality. Considering my car tax is Eur 1290 ono, it's a fuggin' outrage. I actually brought the car to a complete stop, and crossed over the road to avoid some parts. The Co Co road dept should be hauled up on negligence charges, and the RSA and NRA too, imho.

And, is it on me, but that urban roads are now even more neglected, and less likely to fixed.......(Gort comes to mind.....)

I actually raised this point recently, insofar as I believe that the Road Tax people/Government could be taken to task under "The sale of goods and services act" which states that goods and services must be fit for the purpose for which they were intended. I hardly think that our roads would qualify under this criteria. Therefore "they" are not adhering to the terms of the act, so they would have a case to answer. I pay 1,500 euro per annum for the pleasure of having my suspension/steering/ wheels knackered, not to mention the associated dangers.Ironic that a car has to be tested to ensure that it's safe to take onto a public road, when the road itseld can be a greater source of danger. Why cant Joe Public set up a NRT (National Roads Test) to determine whether or not the roads that we are provided with are "fit for purpose", before we commit our National Car Tested vehicles to their mercies?

Heroditas

For an N road, the N66 is an absolute disgrace.

fiona-f

sogood wrote: »

I actually raised this point recently, insofar as I believe that the Road Tax people/Government could be taken to task under "The sale of goods and services act" which states that goods and services must be fit for the purpose for which they were intended. I hardly think that our roads would qualify under this criteria. Therefore "they" are not adhering to the terms of the act, so they would have a case to answer. I pay 1,500 euro per annum for the pleasure of having my suspension/steering/ wheels knackered, not to mention the associated dangers.Ironic that a car has to be tested to ensure that it's safe to take onto a public road, when the road itseld can be a greater source of danger. Why cant Joe Public set up a NRT (National Roads Test) to determine whether or not the roads that we are provided with are "fit for purpose", before we commit our National Car Tested vehicles to their mercies?

Sorry to be pedantic but you don't pay road tax, you pay motor tax. Years ago you paid road tax and the idea was that the government would use the proceeds to finance the roads; nowadays you pay motor tax and it is just added to the same pot as VAT, income tax and any other taxes without any distinct purpose earmarked for it.

For all those giving out about the roads, did you raise this issue with the candidates for local elections when they came canvassing last month? If not, I suggest that you start lobbying them immediately - as far as road maintenance is concerned, I am convinced that the only way things will change is if those in charge are pressured into changing them. Talk to your local elected representatives, write to your local newspaper, get an online petition, whatever.

galwaytt

bayviewclose wrote: »

on some subjects do people in country find it hard to drive on dark roads.

...mmm, not really, but some roads are def better than others. The newly re-surfaced road from Ennis-Ennistymon is a case in point. I had occasion to go to a P-club do there recently, and I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. First the car was silent. And not squeaky like it is everwhere else. But the road markings and cat's eye's are first class (credit where credit is due). You could virtually drive it lights-off, it's so good.

Now, the main road from Cork to Mallow, has a large 2+1 section, segregated by a cheese-wire barrier. Not only is that barrier, imho, illegal, it is extremely dangerous to maneouvre through, at night. (did that road at 22:30 last night). No markings, variable road width (2-1-2-1....etc), with ZERO shoulder or margin to offside. I'd love to see stats on that road, actually. God help you if you cycle/motorcycle that route. And yesterday on the 1-lane section, because there was no hard shoulder, a huge queue built up behind a tractor with a mower (not the tractor's fault - he's entitled to be there too...), but he had no shoulder to pull into. Dangerous, sub-standard, unlit, badly engineered and planned. Someone should be hauled over the coals for it. And this a National PRIMARY Route ? FFS...........

sogood wrote: »

I actually raised this point recently, insofar as I believe that the Road Tax people/Government could be taken to task under "The sale of goods and services act" which states that goods and services must be fit for the purpose for which they were intended. ......... Why cant Joe Public set up a NRT (National Roads Test) to determine whether or not the roads that we are provided with are "fit for purpose", before we commit our National Car Tested vehicles to their mercies?

...agree. On the issue of a Road Test, I think the requirements for this ALREADY exists, but damned if I know how to find them. (will ask a roads-contractor, tomorrow......). How about the Health & Safety people ? No way anyone is telling me that those road's DON'T pose a H & S risk......

sogood

fiona-f wrote: »

Sorry to be pedantic but you don't pay road tax, you pay motor tax. Years ago you paid road tax and the idea was that the government would use the proceeds to finance the roads; nowadays you pay motor tax and it is just added to the same pot as VAT, income tax and any other taxes without any distinct purpose earmarked for it.

For all those giving out about the roads, did you raise this issue with the candidates for local elections when they came canvassing last month? If not, I suggest that you start lobbying them immediately - as far as road maintenance is concerned, I am convinced that the only way things will change is if those in charge are pressured into changing them. Talk to your local elected representatives, write to your local newspaper, get an online petition, whatever.

Sorry to be pedantic also, but at the end of the day, I'm paying for something which isnt being delivered, or is being delivered, albeit in very poor shape. Whatever terminology is used to describe the money that is extorted from me is academic, we abolished "import duty" on cars years ago, but now pay an equivalent amount called VRT or "registration fee" or "because theres an 'R' in the month levy". It doesnt change the fact that the roads are cr*p, unsafe, and not fit for purpose. I take your point about local representatives, and yes I did raise this, and other issues, but it's not as though thats going to achieve anything is it. I've been around long enough to know that direct action is what gets results. eg. farmers protests, taxi drivers protests, truckers protests, paye protests etc. etc.

Dankoozy

twincamman wrote: »

just wondering what people think these roads are,mine would be,mallow to fermoy road in co.cork.also mallow to mitchelstown is dangerous

yea i live along the mallow to fermoy road and its fairly bad alright. i don't know how i'm still alive. seen a fair few accidents over the years only a few ft from my house. most of the road is alright but there are some really bad spots in it like.

killavullen to cork and ballyhooly to cork are worse though.

Scottie99

twincamman wrote: »

just wondering what people think these roads are,mine would be,mallow to fermoy road in co.cork.also mallow to mitchelstown is dangerous

Have to agree with the Mitchelstown to Mallow road, I often have to bring a HGV down it. No fun when there's a HGV coming the other way!! I

timmywex

Basically nearly every road in irelnd.

You only realise this after being away driving on the continent.

Stark

sogood wrote: »

Sorry to be pedantic also, but at the end of the day, I'm paying for something which isnt being delivered, or is being delivered, albeit in very poor shape.

Your car wasn't delivered? Better get onto your dealer about that.

Slidey

The Sligo to Manorhamilton road is particularly bad and when 2 trucks meet on it there is no margin for error.

Eric Cartman

anywhere in donegal, dangerous.....to your resale value (ohh shocks, tyres, alloys and wishbones too)

Damien360

There is a bad road close to galway as you come in on the Castlebar/Galway road. The problem is signage...it's in Irish. My irish is school level and much of that is forgotten but there should be no signage exclusively is Irish, even if you are in the Gaeltacht. Section is close to Headford, there is a sharp right hand turn directly after a hump back bridge and the bridge does not appear hump back until you are on it. A large warning sign is on the right completly in Irish. As I approached I saw the sign and wondered what that was about. Found out seconds later. Scared the bejasus out of me and luckily no car on the other side of the bridge. Only just made the turn with a lot of very hard braking. Any Galway posters know this one ?

Tech3

Scottie99 wrote: »

Have to agree with the Mitchelstown to Mallow road, I often have to bring a HGV down it. No fun when there's a HGV coming the other way!! I

That road is a shambles but not necessarily the worst. Fermoy-Mallow isint much better. Here are a few others:

The N56 north of Glenties is very challenging. The Gweedore bends have you stuck in 3rd gear for about 2 or 3 miles. The rest of the route is very similar.

The N84 from Galway to Castlebar is another gem. There is a good variety of humps every few miles to check out the suspension and also to see how long your car can glide off the road. Some seriously dangerous bends also to go with a 100km/hr speed limit.

I think the N16 is going very close to the N20 from Croom-Mallow for the gong of the worst national primary road in the country.

Tech3

Heroditas wrote: »

For an N road, the N66 is an absolute disgrace.

The Gort-Loughrea road? Thats one of the best secondary roads I've driven on.

Tech3

galwaytt wrote: »

And, is it on me, but that urban roads are now even more neglected, and less likely to fixed.......(Gort comes to mind.....)

If you mean a bypass of Gort then its being done currently.

HQDC is being constructed at the minute from the end of the current Ennis bypass to 2km north of Gort.

In terms of the towns surface I have gathered that it was left like that delibrately in order to push to government to go ahead with the new N18/M18(Gort-Crusheen scheme) to bypass the town.

PaulKK

N77 Kilkenny to Ballyragget must be the worst N road in the country

furtzy

Any road around Gweedore. Bloody hell the waves on the tarmac are horrendous. As for the driving habits of the locals they're suicidal. Continuous white lines mean nothing down there.

twincamman

sligo road to enniskillen is very dangerous too

road_high

The N9 between Thomastown and Waterford in particular is an awful road for what was supposedly a national primary. Will be defunct to an R road in a few weeks . Same goes for the neighbouring N10 from Danesfort to Ballyhale also soon to be defunct by the swish new M9.

teednab-el

Killarney to Mallow road is a scandal. If you want to test your shocks and steering then I would suggest you try this road.

L1011

tech2 wrote: »

The N56 north of Glenties is very challenging. The Gweedore bends have you stuck in 3rd gear for about 2 or 3 miles. The rest of the route is very similar.
.

And the straight sections between Gweebarra (I think you mean this not Gweedore?) and Dungloe will throw you in to the fields if you try and do more than about 80km/h, bar the one recently realigned bit.

The N56 from Killybegs to Ardara - rarely used as a national route due to the R262 but actually is one - is possibly the worst bit national secondary I've used.

brandon_flowers

teednab-el wrote: »

Killarney to Mallow road is a scandal. If you want to test your shocks and steering then I would suggest you try this road.

A ***** of a road and Killarney to Cork around Ballyvourney isn't much better.

I travel all over the country as an engineer and some of the roads that are classed as national roads are disgraceful. Lived in Edinburgh for a year and the B roads outside of the cities were so much better than our national routes.

teednab-el

brandon_flowers wrote: »

A ***** of a road and Killarney to Cork around Ballyvourney isn't much better.

Totally agree, The Ballyvourney section of the Cork Killarney road is so so dangerous. I admire bus drivers and HGV drivers for having the guts to drive through this route as its lethal for those driving a car.

bladebrew

the road out of buttevant,i cant remember if its the limerick or cork side,with the bad bends everywhere,i think the guy killed here recently was on this section of the road,i was driving on it before in the rain behind a dumper truck it was a nightmare,

wjc

Cashel to Clonmel road very dangerous. Lot of deaths on it.

netwhizkid

teednab-el wrote: »

Totally agree, The Ballyvourney section of the Cork Killarney road is so so dangerous. I admire bus drivers and HGV drivers for having the guts to drive through this route as its lethal for those driving a car.

It was far far worse about two or three years ago, at least it was Tarmaced from Ballyvourney to Macroom and a few turns made wider and given high grip surface in the turns. Still a total disgrace but if they ever implement the plan to connect the County Bounds road outside Ballyvourney bypassing Ballvourney and Macroom and eventually heading on to connect with the South ring.

Other roads that are a disgrace are Killarney - Rathmore - Mallow -Mitchelstown this road is so bad it leaves Kerry totally isolated from the M8 and road to Dublin, I drive to Cork and the South Ring, Jack Lynch Tunnel to the M8 when driving to Dublin rather than face this hell hole and with the Ballyvourney road as described above it is certainly the best of a bad lot.

Sneem - Kenmare in Kerry would have to be the worst stretch of National Secondary road in Ireland an absolute disgrace.

Donegal has appalling roads which are manageable to most drivers who drive accordingly, however Donegal suffers from boyraceritis and as result I'd prefer to take my chances on the Yungas road in Bolivia than travel too much up there.

Last time I had to go up from Kerry I flew to Dublin and then flew to Derry before hiring a car, flights were cheap and overall the cost to quality ratio was very much worth it rather than spending so long driving up and with fuel so expensive the cost was not much more anyways!

cloneslad

I have to say I don't really mind the sligo to manorhamilton or even enniskillen road. I drive it two or three times a week. Sure you can't do much over taking on it, but the speed limit is 100km/h most of the way and the road surface is actually pretty good.

You have to take the bends in your stride on the sligo to manorhamilton road, anyway, the scenery is awesome so take it in and enjoy it. When I lived in korea they just tore great big holes through mountains to help save 15 mins driving, to be honest i prefer the scenery to the carnage they have going on over there

Atomic Pineapple

cloneslad wrote: »

I have to say I don't really mind the sligo to manorhamilton or even enniskillen road. I drive it two or three times a week. Sure you can't do much over taking on it, but the speed limit is 100km/h most of the way and the road surface is actually pretty good.

I have to agree, I drove it recently and wouldn't class it as dangerous at all

donvito99

N81, Jobstown to Citywest, crazy for a National Secondary route.

comanche

cloneslad wrote: »

I have to say I don't really mind the sligo to manorhamilton or even enniskillen road. I drive it two or three times a week. Sure you can't do much over taking on it, but the speed limit is 100km/h most of the way and the road surface is actually pretty good.

You have to take the bends in your stride on the sligo to manorhamilton road, anyway, the scenery is awesome so take it in and enjoy it. When I lived in korea they just tore great big holes through mountains to help save 15 mins driving, to be honest i prefer the scenery to the carnage they have going on over there

yeah another +1 ... actually find it a fun run to drive.

twincamman

teednab-el wrote: »

Killarney to Mallow road is a scandal. If you want to test your shocks and steering then I would suggest you try this road.

ya that road isnt great

twincamman

millstreet to macroom in cork ,i hate that road also mallow to limerick there is a 2 mile strech before buttevant ,ballybeg bends as they are known,another truck over turened there today after a fatal crash there last week

ianobrien

teednab-el wrote: »

Totally agree, The Ballyvourney section of the Cork Killarney road is so so dangerous. I admire bus drivers and HGV drivers for having the guts to drive through this route as its lethal for those driving a car.

I think that stretch is a great driving road since it was resurfaced. Loads of sweeping bends of different radii, flowing dips and bends.....

dublinhead

donvito99 wrote: »

N81, Jobstown to Citywest, crazy for a National Secondary route.

I agree not much better as you go further on to Blessington

Col200sx

In terms of damaging your car.....

Driving through Gort in Co. Galway and driving through Ballinasloe in Co. Galway.

Stiff suspension and you're in real trouble:mad:

Oh, and have driven the Delvin road couple times (think after going North off the Motorway to Dublin), while a brilliant road to drive in the dry, it was the exact opposite in the wet

high horse

twincamman wrote: »

sligo road to enniskillen is very dangerous too

No it isn't! The surface is very good, all bends on the road have the correct camber and there are anti-skid surfaces going into all the bends. There are limited overtaking opportunities but the road itself will definately hold up to driving at the speed limit.
Slow drivers on this road cause frustration and the danger comes when people try to overtake where they clearly should not

teednab-el

twincamman wrote: »

millstreet to macroom in cork ,i hate that road

i HATE that road also, very hard to overtake if caught behind a lorry or hgv.

ShadowHearth

twincamman wrote: »

just wondering what people think these roads are,mine would be,mallow to fermoy road in co.cork.also mallow to mitchelstown is dangerous

OMG I WAS THINKING OF SAME ROADS!

Seriuosly, i am afraid to drive on those sometimes, speciallialy that down hill section in "wood"! really spooky with RWD car!

JHMEG

galwaytt wrote: »

my car tax is Eur 1290 ono

Do your local authority take nearest offers? Mine will only accept the exact amount

salamander27

Col200sx wrote: »

In terms of damaging your car.....

Driving through Gort in Co. Galway

And if you continue onwards towards loughrea there are some scary patches especially in the wet. (Although they've resurfaced the first mile along that road last week. It's almost pure bliss by comparison!)

Danuogma

N69 Limerick to Tarbert.

N20 Mallow to Buttevant