THE HIGHEST HORSE IN THE LAND!

B11gt00e

I drive all over the place... and I'm familiar with the Italian driving experience mentioned on this post - very true about them having their own brand of overtaking... it's some kind of testosteron fueled alpha-male-ism used to over-compensate for engine size.

Considering the quality and average engine size of the cars on Irish roads now compared to the late 80's to early 90's, I haven't really noticed an improvement in the population's collective driving skills... In fact, watching the brake lights lighting up on cars blazing around corners often highlights the fact that it is the modern technological devices engineered into modern motors that keeps many of the chancers out there on the road instead of in the ditch.

... I still love old cars, and I've had, in my opinion, had the good fortune in the past five years to drive - a mark I Izuzu trooper from Mexico to Nicaragua, a mark I and II opel kadet on secondary roads in central Europe, Ford escort marks I and II around regional roads in the west of Ireland as well as a lada, Yugo and the serbian made zastava.

.... All these cars were primitive and lacking in any modern tech to help keep you on the road, but what they allow you to do is to tune your driving techniques to completely understand the physics between the car and the road (the more surfaces the better - grass, loose chippings, gravel, asphalt and some roads a mix of all these).

... None of these cars were capable of huge speeds, but just to handle them at say 50-65 mph on different topography was challenging and highly enjoyable... also, components like brakes, which have no assistance from computers, are usually quite weak on these old girls, so you have to use your wits and drive accordingly and use gearing and petrol to slow the car down via anticipation of the road ahead and by reading the road's contours and surface.

What these experiences have help me achieve is an understanding between car, driver and road that allows me to enjoy driving immensely and I regard it as one of my past times. I generally drive in a way that doesn't hinder those in front (by not tailgating, although some people seem to enjoy having someone up their ass and crawl in the overtaking lane on motorways to highten the experienc) and by never interfering with fast approaching traffic from behind... on a motorway, I'm immediately in to give them the clearance when I see them fast approaching in my rear view, or in the case of national roads, I ease into the side to give them the maximum possible clearance to pass safely without interupting oncoming traffic.

... if its a case of oncoming overtaking, I again, just ease into the shoulder or the edge of the road to give the oncoming driver (whether lunatic or 'doctor on call') more time and spacento pass safely (even though this might not be a concern of said driver)... I don't flash my lights, give hand gestures or get bothered about what has them driving like that.

I like perpetual motion... I've gotten onto continental motorways in the past and driven 400km stints in whatever fashion I'm in the mood to drive, and have found that you rarely need to apply brakes, ... EVER!!! that gives you the optimum fuel economy as well as just a relaxed sensation during the drive.

If I happen to be trying to make time in Ireland, even at the designated max speed level, I find that morons up ahead decide to pull in to the overtaking lane and impede on me by making me brake, as they decide to execute their big overtaking move at say 105km/h, thus making me brake and lose my momentum, and then making me wait while they decide to get value out of their rare maneover into the overtaking lane to stay for a few minutes and built up a tail back that causes a concertina effect on all those 120km/h drivers coming faster from behind.

I'm patient, and generally when on the road I'm not on the clock, thus I don't blaze the horn, flash the lights etc... but sometimes my patience wears thin on the Irish road network. I've driven extensively in the US, Central America, Brazil and continental Europe and find Irish drivers to be of the lowest calibre. It's a nation obsessed with speeding as the main crime on the road, while there are many factors in bad driving, and those slow joes that just come out onto main roads at a snails pace are far more guilty then a well focused person doing a good speed on a long haul journey. The main weakness in the driving here is the lack of respect or vigilence towards what's going on behind your car... driving is a 360 experience and 100% awarenss is needed.

All those f*ckers driving and yapping on the cellies going around roundabouts are a disaster as well as those that drive with hangovers... in my opinion the day after a big session is not a driving day as your reactions are slowed considerably and your attentiveness is not razor sharp. Also, a car full of people (including kids) is very distracting to the driver and I often see that in car I've seen pulling a ridiculous maneovre or who've swerved with surprise as you overtake them is due to them having only partial focus on the road.

Now with huge bhp and more automatic transmissions then ever before, people have less reason to have to concentrate on driving and are thus often guilty of negligence behind the wheel.

.... and then there's the angry pre-medatators... who are ready on the horn all the time. They give you the horn because you surprised them as they're not focused and their beeping at you because of this...

Some of our roads, including the m50 are of such a high standard, and with the landmass of the country being so small, people should be able to around the whole country safely and efficiently, but I rarely see this happening.

It's a mad place altogether... my lifestyle takes me out of the country for many months a year, and the first thing I always notice on my return and the drive into Dublin fromt the airport is the complete lack of synchronisation on behalf of the driving population.

Driving is about respect. Don't push a nervous mom, old timer or learner drivers past their safe levels, but teach when you drive and learn when you drive. I often see right hand turns being executed from oncoming traffic while I'm driving-by, and I see a large tail back forming, when the right turner could have moved right up onto the centre line to allow those behind to keep going straight on without causing the tail-back... I always point to the white line to these guys... Courtesy people!!! just cause your going right, doesn't mean you have to stop the whole city and add to the rage that might be bubbling in those cars behind where people are ineveitably trying to be at a certain place at a certain time.

Drop the aggression and the threats and just start driving enmass in a way that we can all enjoy the overpriced privelge of driving.... we're the first generation who have nice motors so lets not kill each other and start making it work so that we can all do our things as efficient as possible.

I see the road network with its drivers as a manifestation of a culture... it's how I get an insight into a culture when I'm in a new country and driving for the first time... thus, I see Ireland as an over-complicating place with too many drivers acting like the moderators on this site, over enthusiastic about pointing out someone else's errors or just seeing everything as a chance to blaze the horn.

The only way the lifestyle of this messed up little rock on the edge of the Atlantic is going to improve for us whether there are jobs or not is to start to get a collective flow going and just allowing each other to get about as best we can however we can. Stop policing what's going on the hard shoulder and wherever and just get to where you're going as smoothly and politely as you can...

There's a lot of smart people on this forum and I read many theads and posts before buying a new car last year as well as tips about good tyres to choose and the best place to buy fuel.

If my horse seem high, well hey, I'm out there daily and still enjoying my drives... speed bumps, slow joes, cellie blazers and corner brakers are all part of the day2day, but just pop in the good tunes and roll as best you can. Try not to get caught up and just keep on Top.

R.O.R

TLDR

Voodoomelon

Nice to read your perspective on things. Your post essentially sums up a weeks worth of threads on here.
When it comes to driving in Ireland, ignorance is bliss. Like you saw, awareness is a major issue on our roads and people don't think or look before maneuvering.

Biggest things that get me are the use of roundabouts, unnecessary use of brakes, blissfully unaware drivers and the use of motorways. All major problems here.

Padraig Mor

post of the week.

cabrwab

Good Post
More skimmed then read but made sense! I'll go back read it properly now

sogood

Excellent post and I agree 100%. I drive coaches for a living, in all sorts of environments, from motorways to Slea head and the Ring of Kerry and have to agree that the standard of driving out there leaves a lot to be desired. Something I tend to do that helps, is to pre-programme myself before I drive, deciding in advance that I'm going to have a good, pleasant,considerate drive, rather than to let the actions of a group of moronic motorists dictate how I will feel. I enjoy driving, it's a pastime and I dont allow others to impinge upon my pleasure. There will always be bad drivers, it's a fact of life, but joining the ranting and raving brigade doesn't help anyone. Sure, you blow off steam to a degree, but do you really feel any better for it? I was rewarded one day while driving into Castleisland from Abbeyfeale. The section of road in question is wide and runs downhill in a gentle curve, when I was passed by a car, hammering along, obviously well above the speed limit. Further along, where the road levels off onto a straight section, he was pulled in by a speed cop, paperwork in hand. I have to say I was pleased, he got caught and had no one to thank but himself. So anyway, thats it, take it easy, be in charge of your driving, don't let your driving be in charge of you. You know better, so do better.

Mr Benevolent

Excellent post, well worth the read. One or two points:

Now with huge bhp and more automatic transmissions then ever before, people have less reason to have to concentrate on driving and are thus often guilty of negligence behind the wheel.

I'd contend that having an automatic makes you safer, especially in traffic or an urban environment. Since many Irish people have problems with figuring out which gear they should be in (me, for instance), an automatic means one less distraction while driving.

Off topic:

too many drivers acting like the moderators on this site, over enthusiastic about pointing out someone else's errors or just seeing everything as a chance to blaze the horn.

Moderators usually have good reason to point out various gaffes, insults and bad behavior simply because that's what they're supposed to do! Boards wouldn't go far without them. With regard to driver's attitudes, you're correct. Everything is seen as a chance to point out a mistake.

Another point is that there's a certain cockiness that comes from driving a car. Very few drivers will admit to being anything less than perfect. My brother called himself 'a natural driver' within 2 weeks of getting his licence :rolleyes: His girlfriend thinks she's brilliant at it too, ignoring the two crashes that were both her fault. We do need a little humility in the driver's seat.

Goes off to borrow a Civic and weld the accelerator to the floor

Absurdum

Excellent post. I had a near miss on the M1 today, car stopped on hard shoulder for whatever reason, decides to indicate and pull out into driving lane from a standstill, blissfully unaware that traffic is approaching. Near miss may be an exaggeration because I was actually paying attention, I fear that had I been equally as stupid/sleepy as this driver, there would have been a serious collision.

The sheer stupidity of people never ceases to amaze me.