Avoiding motorways?

arleitiss

Hey, just wondering is there a way to drive across Ireland other than through motorways? Also don't know what way is there, but is there a way to beach avoiding motorways?

P.S - not that I am scared of them, just on provisional license, can't really drive on those.

Wishbone Ash

Go to the AA routeplanner and tick the "avoid motorways" box. You'll have to enter your starting and finishing points first and then tick the "avoid motorways" box afterwards.

PS - you are on a Learner Permit not a Provisional Licence. They ceased to be issued in 2007.

richardjjd

My understanding is (and I could be entirely wrong) is the the "M" designation (eg m50, m1) cannot be given unless there is a "N" alternative.

Losty Dublin

arleitiss wrote: »

Hey, just wondering is there a way to drive across Ireland other than through motorways? Also don't know what way is there, but is there a way to beach avoiding motorways?

P.S - not that I am scared of them, just on provisional license, can't really drive on those.

By the sounds of things, you shouldn't actually be driving anywhere today.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=78886202

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=78847102

Fighting Irish

Losty Dublin wrote: »

By the sounds of things, you shouldn't actually be driving anywhere today.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=78886202

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=78847102

Who are you? :rolleyes:

corktina

richardjjd wrote: »

My understanding is (and I could be entirely wrong) is the the "M" designation (eg m50, m1) cannot be given unless there is a "N" alternative.

i think you are entirely wrong . Most N roads superceded by Motorways are now R designated.

arleitiss

Losty Dublin wrote: »

By the sounds of things, you shouldn't actually be driving anywhere today.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=78886202

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=78847102

I will be next week, so just thinking planning ahead.

L1011

richardjjd wrote: »

My understanding is (and I could be entirely wrong) is the the "M" designation (eg m50, m1) cannot be given unless there is a "N" alternative.

There has to be an alternative, but its never an N road - the M numbering supercedes and replaces the N numbering.

The M50's alternative is unsigned and not consistent, but for effectively all other motorways there is an R road almost alongside it, and often of relatively decent quality (e.g. the R148 for the M4 and the R445 for the M7).

richardjjd

richardjjd wrote: »

My understanding is (and I could be entirely wrong) is the the "M" designation (eg m50, m1) cannot be given unless there is a "N" alternative.

Perhaps I should have said an alternative of "N" quality.

Victor

Should you "drive across Ireland" if you haven't passed a test yet? On a bank holiday weekend?

Most motorways will have a parallel regional road that has the same number for much or all of the length of the motorway. If you let us know what trip you intend to make, we can let the Garda know we can suggest a route.

Cookie_Monster

Victor wrote: »

Should you "drive across Ireland" if you haven't passed a test yet? On a bank holiday weekend?

once somebody qualified is in the car why not, great way to learn and get confident.

Losty Dublin

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

once somebody qualified is in the car why not, great way to learn and get confident.

If somebody is with him, that is

Victor

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

once somebody qualified is in the car why not, great way to learn and get confident.

Graduated learning? First Dalkey Quarry then Mount Everest?

L1011

Victor wrote: »

Graduated learning? First Dalkey Quarry then Mount Everest?

I wouldn't consider doing a cross-country on detrunked N roads - likely to be very low traffic and fairly high quality - to be significantly harder if at all than the urban driving most learners start with.

Max Power1

MYOB wrote: »

There has to be an alternative, but its never an N road - the M numbering supercedes and replaces the N numbering.

The M50's alternative is unsigned and not consistent, but for effectively all other motorways there is an R road almost alongside it, and often of relatively decent quality (e.g. the R148 for the M4 and the R445 for the M7).

Whats the alternative for the m50 then? Red cow to blanchardstown>

L1011

Max Power1 wrote: »

Whats the alternative for the m50 then? Red cow to blanchardstown>

The routes which existed before it was built. Phoenix Park or Lucan Village.

Cookie_Monster

Victor wrote: »

Graduated learning? First Dalkey Quarry then Mount Everest?

long continuous roads with little traffic and little in the way of lights or intersections. Perfect chance to cruise and not have to worry so much about clutch point and gears and give other aspects more attention and get used to the feeling of driving for 3 or so hours or more...

Losty Dublin

Max Power1 wrote: »

Whats the alternative for the m50 then? Red cow to blanchardstown>

There is none as direct routes go. It was exempted as it's a orbital route for the city.

Mycroft H

MYOB wrote: »

I wouldn't consider doing a cross-country on detrunked N roads - likely to be very low traffic and fairly high quality - to be significantly harder if at all than the urban driving most learners start with.

You've never driven the old N4 then. A lot of people are still on it due to the motorway been entirely tolled

ardmacha

There are about 88,000 Km of non motorway roads in the Republic of Ireland. You should manage to find a way. Perhaps you'd post your route so the rest of us can use a different road that day.

flazio

The relevant councils seem to be marking the R routes that were the old N routes with yellow markings on route confirmations and junction signposts.

Ted Mosby

arleitiss wrote: »

Hey, just wondering is there a way to drive across Ireland other than through motorways? Also don't know what way is there, but is there a way to beach avoiding motorways?

P.S - not that I am scared of them, just on provisional license, can't really drive on those.

Try this. It has every single road in the country and it will encourage you to use your imagination in getting from A to B. With your qualified driver of course.

Victor

MYOB wrote: »

I wouldn't consider doing a cross-country on detrunked N roads - likely to be very low traffic

On a sunny bank holiday weekend?

markpb

Victor wrote: »

On a sunny bank holiday weekend?

It was you! Everyone, we've found the person to blame for the sun going away. Pitchforks at the ready folks, lets do this properly.

Stark

Victor wrote: »

On a sunny bank holiday weekend?

Probably even easier in that case as you'll be stuck behind Sunday drivers doing urban speeds for most of the journey.

cazzak79

When I go Dublin to Galway I would go the old main route sometimes ie go through enfield kinnegad, ballinasloe etc
Most of the old main road should still exist

L1011

BX 19 wrote: »

You've never driven the old N4 then. A lot of people are still on it due to the motorway been entirely tolled

Firstly, the M4 is not "entirely tolled". Kilcock to Kinnegad is. Leixlip to Kilcock and Kinnegad to Neads Bridge is not.

Secondly, most of the motorways in Ireland are not tolled, and of those that are, the M4 has the highest rate of avoidance.

Try the former M9 through Kildare, the former M8 or M1 almost anywhere, and so on.

Victor wrote: »

On a sunny bank holiday weekend?

See above. Yes, they'll still be very low traffic compared to an 'active' N road.

cazzak79 wrote: »

When I go Dublin to Galway I would go the old main route sometimes ie go through enfield kinnegad, ballinasloe etc
Most of the old main road should still exist

All of it does. Legal requirement to have a non-motorway traffic route, e.g. for those on learners permits.