Motorway driving in Ireland

Motor Mouth: Gabes

Hi guys,

My name is Gabes and I work as a researcher on Motor Mouth (Newstalk Mon 9-11). We'd like to get the Boards.ie view on the topics we discuss each week. Next Monday one of the issues we'll talk about is motorway driving in Ireland and specifically:
1) Do Irish people recieve sufficient training and information on correct motorway driving (eg correct use of the outside lane, putting on hazards if you have to slow down quickly)?
2) Are we good or bad motorway drivers in comparison to drivers in Britain/the rest of Europe? What bad habits have you seen here or abroad?
3) Are our motorways sufficiently serviced? Were they gritted adequately during the cold snap? Do we need the soon-to-be built motorway service areas?

Let us know what you think.

Thx Gabes.

CarMuppet

You're a researcher? Well here is some reading material:

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055960158

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055973711

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055961274

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055968123

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055976565

Cheers,
CarMuppet

Cookie_Monster

Gabes Motor Mouth wrote: »

1) Do Irish people recieve sufficient training and information on correct motorway driving (eg correct use of the outside lane, putting on hazards if you have to slow down quickly)?

probably not, but its not much different from DC driving, if anything easier. No offside junctions, no lights.

Lane discipline is not existent.
hazard use is getting better I think

2) Are we good or bad motorway drivers in comparison to drivers in Britain/the rest of Europe? What bad habits have you seen here or abroad?

In Italy last week, indicators never used, tailgaiting very common the norm. trucks pull out into overtaking lane a lot seemingly without looking, requiring very heavy braking and tailbacks.

Strangely enough I felt less comfortable on the M50 on the way back from the airport than on the Italian roads...

Britain, Germany, France standard of driving better than here and more predictable in general I think

3) Are our motorways sufficiently serviced? Were they gritted adequately during the cold snap? Do we need the soon-to-be built motorway service areas?

yes, yes and not really

djimi

Gabes Motor Mouth wrote: »

Hi guys,

My name is Gabes and I work as a researcher on Motor Mouth (Newstalk Mon 9-11). We'd like to get the Boards.ie view on the topics we discuss each week. Next Monday one of the issues we'll talk about is motorway driving in Ireland and specifically:
1) Do Irish people recieve sufficient training and information on correct motorway driving (eg correct use of the outside lane, putting on hazards if you have to slow down quickly)?
2) Are we good or bad motorway drivers in comparison to drivers in Britain/the rest of Europe? What bad habits have you seen here or abroad?
3) Are our motorways sufficiently serviced? Were they gritted adequately during the cold snap? Do we need the soon-to-be built motorway service areas?

Let us know what you think.

Thx Gabes.

Haha I drove down the M50 and M/N7 on new years day and it was like an ice skating rink. Im sure every other country in the world would split their sides laughing at the though of the probably the most major road in the country frozen solid by some snow... The way this country handled that cold spell around new years in general was beyond a joke.

Well worth reading thru the threads posted above, especially the Stupid Motorway Users thread.

flyingsnail

Gabes Motor Mouth wrote: »

1) Do Irish people recieve sufficient training and information on correct motorway driving (eg correct use of the outside lane, putting on hazards if you have to slow down quickly)?

No, while this is covered in the theory test it is not covered again unless you're driving instructor goes over it with you. My driving instructor taught me the rules motorway driving on a dual carriage way, before my test. A lot of people see passing the driving test as acknowledgement that they know everything about driving rather than treating it like a continual learning experience. There have been some rules changes since I passed my driving test and apart from the fact that I sought out and learned these rules I would not know about them.

An let's not forget that not every driver out there has sat the theory test, let alone the ones who never sat a driving test.

2) Are we good or bad motorway drivers in comparison to drivers in Britain/the rest of Europe? What bad habits have you seen here or abroad?

I haven't driven outside of Ireland so I can't comment on this other than to say there are a lot of people out there who are very poor drivers.

3) Are our motorways sufficiently serviced? Were they gritted adequately during the cold snap? Do we need the soon-to-be built motorway service areas?

No, I regularly drive the N7/M7 from Limerick to Dublin and it is not unusual to see debris or abandoned cars on the motorway from one week to the next.

We desperately need on motorway service stations. As it stands when I get on the M7 in Dublin I currently drive as far as Borris in Ossory before I reach a service station without having to go out of my way and leave the motorway. I am open to correction on this, but when the M7 is fully open I will be able to drive from Dublin to Limerick without passing a service station. It's all well and good saying you can get off the motorway for one, but this relies on the fact that you A) know where they are and b) what times of the day they are open.

-Corkie-

This thread is totally pointless. These Motorway threads simply go round in circles and end up in fighting and bickering. This gabes ceases to amaze me with his friday evening thread....:(

Mc Love

Even thinking about the bad habits is boiling my blood - Gabe if you spend at least two days driving the countrys motorways/dual carriageways, you are sure to come up with loads of ideas!!