Billboard for the N7 Middle Lane Morons.

dashcamdanny

Would be nice to see the RSA take do similar on our roads.

Atlantic Dawn

When AA roadwatch regularly report refer to crashes in the overtaking lane as the "fast lane" there's not much hope for the country.

Stephenc66

That poster was on the advertising boards above the urinals in the UK motorway service stations. Not sure it made a lot of difference but has to be worth a try.

Toyotafanboi

The sort of person who cruises in the middle lane is the same sort of person who doesn't read signs, so campain = pretty much useless.

_Kaiser_

Pointless here until you also address all the other issues...

- People who can't merge properly (dawdling, cutting across the hatch markings)
- People who can't exit properly
- Elephant-racing trucks
- The tailgaters
- The lane-weavers
- The people who cut out in front of you
etc...

I generally spend most of my time on the M50/N7 in lane 3 when traffic is heavy.. because with all the above muppetry (and of course the lack of enforcement of anything bar "speeding") it's a lot safer and less stressful. I also don't dawdle which helps matters - indeed it generally dissuades the last type above from doing something stupid at the last minute.

5W30

Shuure dem bill boards are for dem boy raaacers

I'm a purfect drivar

Special Circumstances

5W30 wrote: »

Shuure dem bill boards are for dem boy raaacers

I'm a purfect drivar

I always merge at 80kph max, shur shpeed kills.

ironclaw

Should ask the Airport for a lend and move people between lanes who are hogging. All joking aside, if you did it, and it went viral, it might actually have a chance of sticking.

Marty McFly

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

- The lane-weavers

The lane weavers would most likely be cut out if people drove correctly in the first place

Stephenc66

Ironclaw has the answer... A flashing sign in the back of a Garda car would be effective. A flash of the blues by Garda car an overtake and a warning via the sign. A simple cost effective way of educating the driving public who should know better anyway. As part of a targeted campaign

_Kaiser_

Marty McFly wrote: »

The lane weavers would most likely be cut out if people drove correctly in the first place

Not so.. the amount of tools I see jumping across 3 lanes or into an aux lane and back in heavy traffic just to get a car-length ahead is ridiculous.

But then there's also a lot of people who seem to think undertaking is grand anyway :rolleyes: so it's not that surprising

Henry Ford III

I like the scrolling programmable led light idea. Simple to buy and set up.

Cuddlesworth

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

Not so.. the amount of tools I see jumping across 3 lanes or into an aux lane and back in heavy traffic just to get a car-length ahead is ridiculous.

But then there's also a lot of people who seem to think undertaking is grand anyway :rolleyes: so it's not that surprising

That sort of driving aggression is a symptom of 3 lanes doing the same speed, with the busiest lane being the 3rd.

As another poster stated, moving drivers over one lane would cause more problems then it would solve. They drive in the middle lane because its the lazy option, not because they are ignorant of the rules. It follows the same pattern over and over, move into the middle lane, speed up to the car in front, eyes glued to the reg plate, turn off the brain.

You take that type of driver, move them into a situation where they need to be able to assess and react to traffic coming from different directions, at varying speeds and you have a recipe for mayhem.

The autobahn works so well because the exits are far apart and speed is unlimited. You can't afford to turn off or try to merge doing 50% of the regular speed without quickly encountering situations which make the driver correct their behavior.

Golfgorfield

My Niece has recently passed her driving test.

12 lessons: All town based driving.

Test: Town based driving.


She has NEVER driven on a motorway yet is regarded to be a fully qualified driver.

This is a huge factor in the horrendous sights i see on the N7 daily.

Captain Chaos

Golfgorfield wrote: »

My Niece has recently passed her driving test.

12 lessons: All town based driving.

Test: Town based driving.


She has NEVER driven on a motorway yet is regarded to be a fully qualified driver.

This is a huge factor in the horrendous sights i see on the N7 daily.

Learners are not allowed to drive on the motorway until they get a N plate. Really you can legally learn to drive on the motorway once you pass the test. You are not regarded fully qualified until two years with an N plate.

Stephenc66

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

That sort of driving aggression is a symptom of 3 lanes doing the same speed, with the busiest lane being the 3rd.

As another poster stated, moving drivers over one lane would cause more problems then it would solve. They drive in the middle lane because its the lazy option, not because they are ignorant of the rules. It follows the same pattern over and over, move into the middle lane, speed up to the car in front, eyes glued to the reg plate, turn off the brain.

You take that type of driver, move them into a situation where they need to be able to assess and react to traffic coming from different directions, at varying speeds and you have a recipe for mayhem.

The autobahn works so well because the exits are far apart and speed is unlimited. You can't afford to turn off or try to merge doing 50% of the regular speed without quickly encountering situations which make the driver correct their behavior.

I believe the Autobhan works because the drivers follow the rules... Either through education or circumstance but it is the adhering to lane discipline that make it work. Also undertaking and tailgating are well enforced by the police.

There is some common courtesy among drivers to which helps . A flash of the mains from a distance is seen as a polite request to move over not an act of aggression.

Lucena

Ideally motorway driving would be part of the driving test. But this is difficult in practice, as a lot of areas of the country are quite far from a motorway.

Stephenc66

Captain Chaos wrote: »

Learners are not allowed to drive on the motorway until they get a N plate. Really you can legally learn to drive on the motorway once you pass the test. You are not regarded fully qualified until two years with an N plate.

And any trip on our roads should tell us that we need to change how we teach our new drivers. The number on N plates dawdling along in the middle lane. They are following along learning from all the other sheep.

Marty McFly

Captain Chaos wrote: »

Learners are not allowed to drive on the motorway until they get a N plate. Really you can legally learn to drive on the motorway once you pass the test. You are not regarded fully qualified until two years with an N plate.

Yes and during that whole time our government don't see it fit that you receive any instruction on how to drive on motorways.

OK you can reverse around a bend off you go drive in all conditions and on all roads thanks

Golfgorfield

Captain Chaos wrote: »

Learners are not allowed to drive on the motorway until they get a N plate. Really you can legally learn to drive on the motorway once you pass the test. You are not regarded fully qualified until two years with an N plate.

Sorry Pedantic Pat, as she has an N plate she is legally allowed to drive on the motorway (which she does) despite never being tested or having any experience of same.

This alone is madness!

dashcamdanny

Surly the theory test covers motorway etiquette. Never done a theory test myself..

Marty McFly

dashcamdanny wrote: »

Surly the theory test covers motorway etiquette. Never done a theory test myself..

I'm not sure if it does.


But even if it did there is a huge difference between theory and putting something into practice when driving at 100kmh in traffic.

dashcamdanny

From what I have observed in my travels, there is demographic to the offence.

From my view from the cab, its is mainly the sort who driver who has the seat fully forward with the face nearly touching the wheel, and always with an alert slightly panicked frown. Staring straight ahead.

And 50+ male drivers. 5-9 year old japanese car driver. (Probably an Avensis or some type of Honda).

The sort that cant change their spots and probably did not have a motorway in Ireland when they learned. .
No offence intended.

Skatedude

Stephenc66 wrote: »

Ironclaw has the answer... A flashing sign in the back of a Garda car would be effective. A flash of the blues by Garda car an overtake and a warning via the sign. A simple cost effective way of educating the driving public who should know better anyway. As part of a targeted campaign

Not sure that would work, saw a garda car flash it's blues at a car in the right hand lane of the m50 to get the driver to move over so the garda could pass and the driver instead stopped in the right hand lane.

Too many clueless drivers out there.

Dial Hard

Captain Chaos wrote:

Learners are not allowed to drive on the motorway until they get a N plate. Really you can legally learn to drive on the motorway once you pass the test. You are not regarded fully qualified until two years with an N plate.

They can drive on upgraded N roads though, which is exactly what the N7 is. Doesn't become a motorway til after Naas. All learners should be prepared for motorway driving on upgraded N routes. It's a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned.

creedp

Golfgorfield wrote: »

My Niece has recently passed her driving test.

12 lessons: All town based driving.

Test: Town based driving.


She has NEVER driven on a motorway yet is regarded to be a fully qualified driver.

This is a huge factor in the horrendous sights i see on the N7 daily.

The test is flawed for more reasons than not having to drive on a Motorway. Is a person tested for driving in the dark, very wet or icy conditions? Do all test involve negotiating multiple exit roundabouts or dual carriageways? Even if a test required a driver to enter/drive/exit a stretch of a dual carriageway in rush hour traffic it would give some appreciation of what is required to drive safely on a motorway.

SBPhoto

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

The sort of person who cruises in the middle lane is the same sort of person who doesn't read signs, so campain = pretty much useless.

But if that person got a €100 fine and 3points id say he/she would read them in future

Toyotafanboi

SBPhoto wrote: »

But if that person got a €100 fine and 3points id say he/she would read them in future

I completely agree with your logic. In reality though, they'l take the fine, act sorry to the garda and then spend the rest of their life bitching to their friends about that time they got a fine and points on the N7 by a garda who should have been busy catching "real" criminals.

And something about their taxes paying his wages yet he was impeding their progress to work, to earn money to pax tax to pay his wages.

That's how most people really carry on

ironclaw

I've often toyed with the idea of crowdfunding a motorway etiquette video / ad campaign. Half because I want to save my own sanity, the other to show the RSA up on their lack of initiative.

Anyone be interested in chipping a euro or two for that?

AndyBoBandy

I drive a lot in the U.K. And I've often seen the electronic information signs display the message 'don't hog the middle lane'

Simple, the sign isn't being used for anything else at that particular time, so why not display something useful!! Even if 1 driver gets it, it's worth it!!

We have the same digital road signs in Ireland, so why not use them 24/7 instead of only when there is an advisory message to display.

Voodoomelon

ironclaw wrote: »

I've often toyed with the idea of crowdfunding a motorway etiquette video / ad campaign. Half because I want to save my own sanity, the other to show the RSA up on their lack of initiative.

Anyone be interested in chipping a euro or two for that?

I said this before too, was just going to do it myself on my own time and budget. Haven't had the time yet.

NewApproach

Golfgorfield wrote: »

Sorry Pedantic Pat, as she has an N plate she is legally allowed to drive on the motorway (which she does) despite never being tested or having any experience of same.

This alone is madness!

Do you suggest that those living in West Cork or Donegal travel hours to have lessons and a test on motorways?

PixelTrawler

NewApproach wrote: »

Do you suggest that those living in West Cork or Donegal travel hours to have lessons and a test on motorways?

Yes if they want to use the motorways.

NewApproach

NewApproach wrote: »

Do you suggest that those living in West Cork or Donegal travel hours to have lessons and a test on motorways?

There are national roads in each, some of which have 2 lanes for short periods.

But if the practical is, eh, impractical, a compulsory few questions to answer on motorway driving in the test would be an option.

_Kaiser_

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

I drive a lot in the U.K. And I've often seen the electronic information signs display the message 'don't hog the middle lane'

Simple, the sign isn't being used for anything else at that particular time, so why not display something useful!! Even if 1 driver gets it, it's worth it!!

We have the same digital road signs in Ireland, so why not use them 24/7 instead of only when there is an advisory message to display.

Because the problem there is that drivers would start automatically filtering them out so that when something of importance needs to be shown, not everyone will cop it.

Think of it as Boy who Cried Wolf syndrome

Nice idea though!

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

People here that think the autobahn works any different don't drive on it that often I imagine.

The driving on the Autobahn is awful, absolutely awful.

My brother drives in the overtaking lane quite regularly "sure there's nobody around at this time, i'll move over if somebody is behind me" RAGE!!!! Also doesn't use his indicator because "sure what's the point, there's nobody around"... Only drive with him when it's absolutely the last option I have... gobshíte...

*Kol*

It's good practice to indicate even if nobody else is on the road. Not totally necessary though.

dashcamdanny

The indicators is where driving tests vary.

I remember doing my test 20 years ago in NI. The highway code stated that one only has to indicate when necessary.

If there is no one there to see it, then its not necessary. I do accept that may have changed now though.

_Kaiser_

I always indicate.. even if its at 1am on an empty road. I even indicate approaching the express lanes of toll bridges as I regularly see people speed up to these and then swerve left at the last minute to the coin lanes??