Limerick Tunnel Driving

limklad

I already drive through this Tunnel today and noticed some shoddy driving by individual drivers.
1/. You not meant to change lanes.
2/. You are meant to stay 100 metres from the HGV vehicle in front, 50 Metres for car in front.
3/. Have you dim headlights on when entering the Tunnel. ( No full headlights either, most had no lights on)
4/. Remove Sunglasses. ( It difficult to see car behind you when they have no dim headlights lights on).

dirtydiesel

How long will it be open before someones bad driving causes an accident and blocks it up?
Problem with all the new motorways and tunnels in this country there only as good as the drivers using them.
Designed to help motorists but some motorists cant be helped.

CiniO

limklad wrote: »

I already drive through this Tunnel today and noticed some shoddy driving by individual drivers.
1/. You not meant to change lanes.

I don't think it's forbidden by law. It's only advised in rules of the road.

2/. You are meant to stay 100 metres from the HGV vehicle in front, 50 Metres for car in front.

Wrong.
If you are driving car or motorcycle, you have to stay at least 50m from car in front. If you are driving any other vehicle (truck, bus, etc) you have to stay 100m from the vehicle in the front.
Also you always have to obey a 2 second rule.

The Dagda

limklad wrote: »

I already drive through this Tunnel today and noticed some shoddy driving by individual drivers.
1/. You not meant to change lanes.
2/. You are meant to stay 100 metres from the HGV vehicle in front, 50 Metres for car in front.
3/. Have you dim headlights on when entering the Tunnel. ( No full headlights either, most had no lights on)
4/. Remove Sunglasses. ( It difficult to see car behind you when they have no dim headlights lights on).

If you're going to be a pedant then you should list all of the guidelines, try here;

http://www.limericktunnel.com/userguides.htm


and FYI, cars are allowed to overtake, there is a very clear broken white line down the centre of each tunnel

dirtydiesel

CiniO wrote: »

I don't think it's forbidden by law. It's only advised in rules of the road.

Wrong.
If you are driving car or motorcycle, you have to stay at least 50m from car in front. If you are driving any other vehicle (truck, bus, etc) you have to stay 100m from the vehicle in the front.
Also you always have to obey a 2 second rule.

As you enter the Jack lynch tunnel in cork and the port tunnel in Dublin (from memory) im sure there are signs stating stay in lane, the Limerick tunnel could have one too and maybe thats what the op is referring to.

Berty

Its barely open 6 hours. Give it a chance. :rolleyes:

People are just getting used to it. I know many people who have never driven outside of Limerick, therefore never in a Tunnel.

The Dagda

dirtydiesel wrote: »

As you enter the Jack lynch tunnel in cork and the port tunnel in Dublin (from memory) im sure there are signs stating stay in lane, the Limerick tunnel could have one too and maybe thats what the op is referring to.

Both of those tunnels do have solid white lines and signs saying "stay in lane" Limerick tunnel has a broken white line and the guidlines say overtaking (by cars) is allowed.

dirtydiesel

The Dagda wrote: »

Both of those tunnels do have solid white lines and signs saying "stay in lane" Limerick tunnel has a broken white line and the guidlines say overtaking (by cars) is allowed.

Ah I havent had the pleasure of using it yet, didnt know that.

limklad

CiniO wrote: »

I don't think it's forbidden by law. It's only advised in rules of the road.

Wrong.
If you are driving car or motorcycle, you have to stay at least 50m from car in front. If you are driving any other vehicle (truck, bus, etc) you have to stay 100m from the vehicle in the front.

Also you always have to obey a 2 second rule.

You contradict yourself here as the 2 second rule for example is too close for the Tunnel.
100kph, Distance = 55.55 Metres
80kph, Distance = 44.44 Metres
60kph, Distance = 33.3 Metres

We meant to Travel at 60/80kph max through the Tunnel. The 2 second rule breaks the Tunnel rules. Another problem if fires starts the Truck is the major problem. 50 Metres is too close in a confined space even for a car behind the Truck. 100 Metres is the requirement behind a Truck no matter what, because of the fire hazard not rear ending the Vehicle in front as 2 second rule applies to driving on normal roads.

If travelling behind a car you meant to stay 50 metres no matter what speed, also in an emergency your are meant to stop 50 Metres behind the car in front. Read and look at the images in the Leaflet they give out.

limklad

The Dagda wrote: »

Both of those tunnels do have solid white lines and signs saying "stay in lane" Limerick tunnel has a broken white line and the guidlines say overtaking (by cars) is allowed.

Overtaking is not allow in all tunnels, even if you are in the right lane. Changing lanes is also not not allowed under Rules of the Road. Limerick Tunnel is only 675 Metres you will be out in no time.

Rules of the Road wrote:

http://www.rulesoftheroad.ie/rules-for-driving/motorways/tunnels.html

Approaching the tunnel

• Check you have enough fuel in your vehicle before entering the tunnel.
• Remove sunglasses,
• Switch on dipped headlights,
• Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front. Remember, you're entering a tunnel and tailgating could create an emergency. The recommended minimum safe distance for a car or motorcycle is 50 metres and for all other vehicles 100 metres

In the tunnel

• Keep in lane and do not overtake.
• You must not drive in the right-hand lane in a tunnel if you are driving a type of vehicle prohibited from using this lane.
• Do not turn or reverse.
• Do not stop, except in case of emergency.
• Obey the speed limits. There are two forms of speed limit signs.
  • a standard speed limit sign applies where there is a fixed speed limit. You must obey the speed limit and remember this is the maximum permitted speed, not the required speed.
  • where the speed limit can vary you will see variable message signs, which are black squares with red circles and figures in white or yellow throughout the tunnel. The speed limit is shown by the figures and will vary according to traffic conditions and road safety considerations. You must obey the speed limit and remember this is the maximum permitted speed, not the required speed. "Always remember the two second rule".
• Keep your distance. The recommended minimum safe distance for a car or motorcycle is 50 metres and for all other vehicles 100 metres.

Stopping

If you are instructed to stop, you should stop and,

• switch on your hazard warning lights,
• keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front,
• switch off your engine,
• check your radio for instructions from the tunnel operator,
• check all electronic signs in the tunnel for information, and
• if necessary, leave the tunnel using the nearest available pedestrian exit.

Breakdown or a crash

If there is a breakdown or a crash in the tunnel, you should:

• switch on your hazard warning lights,
• switch off your engine,
• go to an emergency station and use the emergency phone to tell the tunnel operator,
• check your radio for instructions, and
• check all electronic signs in the tunnel for information.

Fire in your vehicle

If there is smoke or fire in your vehicle, you should:

• switch off your engine,
• leave your vehicle immediately,
• go to an emergency station and use the emergency phone to tell the tunnel operator, and
• leave the tunnel from the nearest available exit.

Fire in another vehicle

If there is smoke or fire in another vehicle, you should:

• if the fire is behind you, drive out of the tunnel, or
• if the fire is ahead of you, turn off your engine, leave the vehicle immediately, and leave the tunnel by the nearest emergency exit.

Leaving the tunnel

• Follow the road signs.
• Keep a safe speed and position on the roadway.

highlydebased

limklad wrote: »

Overtaking is not allow in all tunnels, even if you are in the right lane. Changing lanes is also not not allowed under Rules of the Road. Limerick Tunnel is only 675 Metres you will be out in no time.

It is?

limklad wrote: »

You contradict yourself here as the 2 second rule for example is too close for the Tunnel.
100kph, Distance = 55.55 Metres
80kph, Distance = 44.44 Metres
60kph, Distance = 33.3 Metres

We meant to Travel at 60/80kph max through the Tunnel. The 2 second rule breaks the Tunnel rules. Another problem if fires starts the Truck is the major problem. 50 Metres is too close in a confined space even for a car behind the Truck. 100 Metres is the requirement behind a Truck no matter what, because of the fire hazard not rear ending the Vehicle in front as 2 second rule applies to driving on normal roads.

If travelling behind a car you meant to stay 50 metres no matter what speed, also in an emergency your are meant to stop 50 Metres behind the car in front. Read and look at the images in the Leaflet they give out.

Very few people will go on the website and read the guidelines. I think common sense applies as with any other motoring scenario. I used it twice today and did not notice any signage indicating to stay in lane. I did overtake also as there was someone progressing at a very slow rate of speed indeed.

The Dagda

limklad wrote: »

You contradict yourself here

As do the rules of the road, the leaflet you recommend below and the road-markings in the tunnel it's self...

limklad wrote: »

Read and look at the images in the Leaflet they give out

Personally I drive based on the conditions at the time, taking note of the signs and markings present, NOT based on conflicting booklets...

CiniO

limklad wrote: »

You contradict yourself here as the 2 second rule for example is too close for the Tunnel.
100kph, Distance = 55.55 Metres
80kph, Distance = 44.44 Metres
60kph, Distance = 33.3 Metres

We meant to Travel at 60/80kph max through the Tunnel. The 2 second rule breaks the Tunnel rules. Another problem if fires starts the Truck is the major problem. 50 Metres is too close in a confined space even for a car behind the Truck. 100 Metres is the requirement behind a Truck no matter what, because of the fire hazard not rear ending the Vehicle in front as 2 second rule applies to driving on normal roads.

If travelling behind a car you meant to stay 50 metres no matter what speed, also in an emergency your are meant to stop 50 Metres behind the car in front. Read and look at the images in the Leaflet they give out.

I don't contradict myself.
You have to obey both rules.
Let's say while travelling 100km/h the tunnel rule of 50m is less than 2s rule(55.55m), so you have to obey tunnel rule. If travelling at 80km/h then 44.44m is less than 50m required by tunnel rule. To obey both rules you always chose to one with bigger distance. That's logical.

And about keeping 100m distance behind a truck. Is it just your own imagination, or does it have any confirmation it the law? (which I doubt).

2 Espressi

This is not the thread I was hoping for... you lot are all doing it wrong!

2 Espressi's guide to Tunnel Driving

1. Ensure vehicle has warmed up, and oil and other fluids are at operating temperature.
2. Roll down all windows, open sunroof (if present), lower roof (if convertible)
3. On approach to tunnel mouth, slow vehicle to 20 mph, using second gear is possible, allowing a large gap to form ahead of vehicle. Maintain this speed until you are inside the tunnel proper.
4. Dip clutch, blip throttle, change down to first, and give it the beans, only changing up once the needle is dancing about the redline.
5. Repeat for second gear, or until you have left the tunnel.
6. Remember kids, it's not about the speed, it's about the Noize!

dirtydiesel

2 Espressi wrote: »

This is not the thread I was hoping for... you lot are all doing it wrong!

2 Espressi's guide to Tunnel Driving

1. Ensure vehicle has warmed up, and oil and other fluids are at operating temperature.
2. Roll down all windows, open sunroof (if present), lower roof (if convertible)
3. On approach to tunnel mouth, slow vehicle to 20 mph, using second gear is possible, allowing a large gap to form ahead of vehicle. Maintain this speed until you are inside the tunnel proper.
4. Dip clutch, blip throttle, change down to first, and give it the beans, only changing up once the needle is dancing about the redline.
5. Repeat for second gear, or until you have left the tunnel.
6. Remember kids, it's not about the speed, it's about the Noize!

gonna try that in my auld Transit on friday! sounds good lol.

NickDrake

100m?? Ah come on are you having a laugh. This is never goin to happen when it is peak time. What are you supposed to do? Slam on the brakes are make sure you go slow enough till a 100m gap appears. Madness

Cookie_Monster

really you should just go through it at 200kph. the less time you spend in it the less chance of being involved in the madness

corktina

i have no experiance of the Limerick tunnel so I'm assuming its similar to the Cork one

I wonder why you need lights on (its lit, many country roads arent lit so why do you need headlights? )
Whats the difference between a dual carriageway at night and the Tunnel? why have a lower speed limit? why have solid lines? why extra rules at all? Its just another bit of road....

ninty9er

dirtydiesel wrote: »

As you enter the Jack lynch tunnel in cork and the port tunnel in Dublin (from memory) im sure there are signs stating stay in lane, the Limerick tunnel could have one too and maybe thats what the op is referring to.

There are no such signs at the entrance to the tunnel. There is a broken white line the whole way, I know because I've already overtaken in it.

If there is a "do not pass in the tunnel" section in the Road Traffic Act (unlikely as it's mainly from1963) someone should inform Direct Route so they can close it for 12 hours to repaint the lines:rolleyes:

ninty9er

corktina wrote: »

i have no experiance of the Limerick tunnel so I'm assuming its similar to the Cork one

No it's actually a tunnel rather than a piddly underpass. Only messing there's only 65m in the difference, though I feel that the Limerick Tunnel is deeper.

Our tunnel is bigger than yours:p

cc

ninty9er wrote: »

No it's actually a tunnel rather than a piddly underpass. Only messing there's only 65m in the difference, though I feel that the Limerick Tunnel is deeper.


Our tunnel is bigger than yours:p

Ours is free

opinion guy

limklad wrote: »

2/. You are meant to stay 100 metres from the HGV vehicle in front, 50 Metres for car in front.

Port tunnel in Dublin has chevrons on the ground and you are mean tto stay two chevrons apart.
I think.
Mostly I just like the word chevron.
Chev-ron.

Awesome word for some reason:)

Tigger

corktina wrote: »

i have no experiance of the Limerick tunnel so I'm assuming its similar to the Cork one

I wonder why you need lights on (its lit, many country roads arent lit so why do you need headlights? )
Whats the difference between a dual carriageway at night and the Tunnel? why have a lower speed limit? why have solid lines? why extra rules at all? Its just another bit of road....

Power cut would be fun if no one had thier lights on

dirtydiesel

ninty9er wrote: »

There are no such signs at the entrance to the tunnel. There is a broken white line the whole way, I know because I've already overtaken in it.

If there is a "do not pass in the tunnel" section in the Road Traffic Act (unlikely as it's mainly from1963) someone should inform Direct Route so they can close it for 12 hours to repaint the lines:rolleyes:

I will be using it today for the first time, has it made a difference to traffic in the city?

Berty

dirtydiesel wrote: »

I will be using it today for the first time, has it made a difference to traffic in the city?

I used it once yesterday and at 10am there was hardly anybody using it. On my way back into the city around 3:30pm there was very similar amounts of traffic in the city.

Traffic is similar on the Dublin road outbound, similar on the Tipperary road outbound but people MUST be using it in numbers because the Tipperary flyover coming off the northbound lane(from the tunnel direction) has nearly double traffic over the past few days.

I guess it shows the Tipperary-Limerick-Shannon and vice versa traffic are using it much more.

A Colleague tells me the Dock road is exceptionally quiet at rush hour.

dirtydiesel

Berty wrote: »

I used it once yesterday and at 10am there was hardly anybody using it. On my way back into the city around 3:30pm there was very similar amounts of traffic in the city.

Traffic is similar on the Dublin road outbound, similar on the Tipperary road outbound but people MUST be using it in numbers because the Tipperary flyover coming off the northbound lane(from the tunnel direction) has nearly double traffic over the past few days.


I guess it shows the Tipperary-Limerick-Shannon and vice versa traffic are using it much more.

A Colleague tells me the Dock road is exceptionally quiet at rush hour.

Im doing the Tipp-Limerick-shannon run today, il allow an extra half hour on the journey just in case.
Ive always found Limerick to be very hit and miss for traffic, clear one day clogged up the next, still its an easy City to get through if you know it well enough.

ninty9er

cc wrote: »

Ours is free

But the M8 isn't. Same difference.

Berty

I'll provide another example of traffic inconsistencies on the roads.

I worked on the M8 Fermoy Bypass, particularly on the Blackwater Vidaduct as it was called. The big bridge anyway.

Prior to the road being opened everybody wanted a bypass, especially the "townfolk" and so did motorists.

When it opened people kept trying to avoid it, putting additional time on their journey having to leave and rejoin the motorway and possibly using more fuel in the process of what they would have saved paying the Toll.

Many trucks still continue to boycott the Toll in Fermoy.

The same is probably happening in Limerick whereby people are too tight to pay the €1.80 to make their lives easier. They will continue to "try" to avoid it out of spite but will eventually get used to it and start using it.







BTW There are still signs on the M20 telling people to leave for Galway, Shannon, Ennis at Raheen and needs to be changed.

Twin-go

opinion guy wrote: »

Port tunnel in Dublin has chevrons on the ground and you are mean tto stay two chevrons apart.
I think.
Mostly I just like the word chevron.
Chev-ron.

Awesome word for some reason:)

Do you like Citroens? They have double Chevrons..............:cool:

dr.fuzzenstein

opinion guy wrote: »

Port tunnel in Dublin has chevrons on the ground and you are mean tto stay two chevrons apart.
I think.
Mostly I just like the word chevron.
Chev-ron.

Awesome word for some reason:)

You must like Stargate then...Chevron two encoded! (Always my favourite one)
But don't forget to stay 55.34634623462336 meters away from the car in front at 80.0000001213 km/h, you will need a Sat Nav that does speed till after the 32nd decimal point and a Bosch laser distance measuring device.
I found out the Sat Nav doesn't work in a tunnel and when I tried keeping the distance I had to concentrate so hard on the readout I crashed!
C'mon, that is not a tunnel, it's a glorified underpass, anything less than 3-4 km (try living near the Alps) is not a tunnel, this is about as much a tunnel as the collection of dual carriageways in Ireland (that don't even connect two cities in an unbroken motorway) is a motorway network.

daveharnett

corktina wrote: »

why have a lower speed limit? why have solid lines? why extra rules at all? Its just another bit of road....

Things are complicated, dangerous and difficult than usual if there is an emergency on this bit of road.

corktina

daveharnett wrote: »

Things are complicated, dangerous and difficult than usual if there is an emergency on this bit of road.

that applies to every bit of road...its really because a lot of irish driverws are so incompentant, they freak out at the idea of a tunnel....

dr.fuzzenstein

corktina wrote: »

that applies to every bit of road...its really because a lot of irish driverws are so incompentant, they freak out at the idea of a tunnel....

+1
Anything where you're in the middle and can see both ends of it is not a tunnel.
Anything that you drive into and after 3 km haven't reached the middle, THAT's a tunnel.

Mc Love

Was on the Dock Road earlier this evening (rush hour) and it was like a Saturday evening, very little traffic. Those new traffic lights are a proper pain though

opinion guy

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

this is about as much a tunnel as the collection of dual carriageways in Ireland (that don't even connect two cities in an unbroken motorway) is a motorway network.

Dublin to Galway is now unbroken motorway the whole way