Sensationalist story of bullying on the road

Pat Mustard

https://www.independent.ie/life/motoring/car-news/eddie-cunningham-i-drove-90kmh-on-an-irish-motorway-the-rudeness-and-hostility-i-endured-was-chilling-36298645.html

Some journo called Eddie Cunningham has an Indo article on being bullied on the road for driving at 90km/hr:

The number of times I was beeped, flashed at and given the fingers by drivers closing in on my rear bumper or overtaking was chilling.

I have driven at 100km/hr on motorways all over the country and I've never experienced this type or level of abuse. I've never heard the like of it tbh. It all sounds a bit hard to believe.

Is it another case of "paper doesn't refuse ink" shocker?

Maybe I have my answer here:

I won't forget my few hours of persecution for a long time.

Dravokivich

It happens. Someone doesn't have the stones to take it up with the mad fella from GTA5.

xabi

I read that yesterday, my first thought was if he's getting that much abuse he's probably travelling well below 90. Even 90 is bordering on a dangerously low speed on a motorway.

Hammer89

"The number of times I was beeped, flashed at and given the fingers by drivers closing in on my rear bumper or overtaking was chilling."

He only needed a horn reference to complete the collection of motor-related innuendos here.

amcalester

Standard of driving in this country is piss poor so I wouldn't be surprised.

Sure, why not drive Galway - Dublin - Galway and back in a small car and report back your findings.

gramar

Pat Mustard wrote: »

https://www.independent.ie/life/motoring/car-news/eddie-cunningham-i-drove-90kmh-on-an-irish-motorway-the-rudeness-and-hostility-i-endured-was-chilling-36298645.html

Some journo called Eddie Cunningham has an Indo article on being bullied on the road for driving at 90km/hr:


I have driven at 100km/hr on motorways all over the country and I've never experienced this type or level of abuse. I've never heard the like of it tbh. It all sounds a bit hard to believe.

Is it another case of "paper doesn't refuse ink" shocker?

Maybe I have my answer here:

Those 10km make all the difference.

SeanHarty

I drive a Toyota yaris, hardly going to light the motorway up with speed, I drive on motorways daily, I have never experienced anything like this.

maybe that's because I do the speed limit and only use overtake lanes for.... you guessed it OVERTAKING.

Chilling. :rolleyes:

I got stuck behind someone doing 70 on the motorway yesterday in decent traffic. Now that was frustrating. If you're going 90 you'll be at the same pace as the lorries, perfect. Unless you're sitting in the overtaking lane for 5 minutes to pass a lorry I doubt you'll get many flashes. Chilling as they would be.

Boom_Bap

So we've heard vague descriptions from Eddie, maybe a full description of at least one of the incidents from him would help flesh out the story, maybe even a description of one of the incidents from a witness or another driver.

He attributes it to his speed, whereas it could be something else.

Pat Mustard

gramar wrote: »

Those 10km make all the difference.

On motorways, can't you just overtake the guy in the ordinary course of events, though?

Now, while I have done 100km/hr on Irish motorways, more often than not, I'm doing about 120. So if there's some slowcoach ahead, I'll just overtake him and that's end of it.

This journo is saying that there were lads overtaking him and cutting across him needlessly. Obviously, there are aggressive drivers on the road. But is there that much needless aggression, that serves no purpose? I just don't see that very often.

dexter_morgan

From Article "Several rude 4x4 and lorry drivers nearly swept me off the road by cutting in sharply in front after overtaking."

Are lorry's fitted with speed limiters for a max of 90kmh? If he was really travelling at 90kmh, how were so many of them overtaking him in the first place?

QuietMan2010

Hard to believe that a motoring journalist wouldn't have a dash cam. So he should release the footage to support his claims. Or turn it over to gardai if he was actually subject to tailgating, dangerous driving and obscene gestures.

lawred2

Pat Mustard wrote: »

https://www.independent.ie/life/motoring/car-news/eddie-cunningham-i-drove-90kmh-on-an-irish-motorway-the-rudeness-and-hostility-i-endured-was-chilling-36298645.html

Some journo called Eddie Cunningham has an Indo article on being bullied on the road for driving at 90km/hr:


I have driven at 100km/hr on motorways all over the country and I've never experienced this type or level of abuse. I've never heard the like of it tbh. It all sounds a bit hard to believe.

Is it another case of "paper doesn't refuse ink" shocker?

Maybe I have my answer here:

maybe he should drive at 120kph then

Pat Mustard

Boom_Bap wrote: »

He attributes it to his speed, whereas it could be something else.

everlast75

amcalester wrote: »

Standard of driving in this country is piss poor so I wouldn't be surprised.

Sure, why not drive Galway - Dublin - Galway and back in a small car and report back your findings.

Not to mention the standard of journalism

Paudee

QuietMan2010 wrote: »

Hard to believe that a motoring journalist wouldn't have a dash cam.

Having just browsed a few more of his articles, I think 'journalist' is a bit of a reach.

gramar

Pat Mustard wrote: »

On motorways, can't you just overtake the guy in the ordinary course of events, though?

Now, while I have done 100km/hr on Irish motorways, more often than not, I'm doing about 120. So if there's some slowcoach ahead, I'll just overtake him and that's end of it.

This journo is saying that there were lads overtaking him and cutting across him needlessly. Obviously, there are aggressive drivers on the road. But is there that much needless aggression, that serves no purpose? I just don't see that very often.

The writer sounds like someone who has led a sheltered enough existence on roads for someone who is a motoring journalist.
90 is slow but on a quietish motorway what issue would people have overtaking and just getting on with their journey.
The only annoyance is that when you approach the slower vehicle others are overtaking meaning you have to slow down before you can get past.
Hardly worthy of giving the fingers or flashing though.

I wonder at his motive.

"have my Renault ZOE electric car badly damaged."

He was not worried his car would be damaged, but worried his " Renault ZOE electric car"

That's like saying I stagger out of the pub and nearly drop my Apple Iphone 7 SE.

If truck that are limited to 90 are overtaking him he is doing 80.

I see them all the time. People in glorified golf carts nursing them home on the motorway. If you have a low range town car, stay in town!

amcalester

everlast75 wrote: »

Not to mention the standard of journalism

Very true.

Piss poor driving coupled with piss poor journalism = Indo Article

He was probably doing mid 80kph max on a 120kph motorway in his dinky Renault Zoe, id probably throw a cheeky beep as i overtook him.

elperello

Deleted User wrote: »

I wonder at his motive.

"have my Renault ZOE electric car badly damaged."

He was not worried his car would be damaged, but worried his " Renault ZOE electric car"

That's like saying I stagger out of the pub and nearly drop my Apple Iphone 7 SE.

If truck that are limited to 90 are overtaking him he is doing 80.

I see them all the time. People in glorified golf carts nursing them home on the motorway. If you have a low range town car, stay in town!

As electric cars become more mainstream we may see more of this.
Realistically it's a non-runner (no pun intended) to stop them using motorways.

ohnonotgmail

presumably he has reported these incidents of dangerous driving to the gardai?

branie2

That's road rage for you

Wibbs

"Bullying", "most horrible sensation", "I suffered it", "I wouldn’t want to have to go through it again", "chilling", "I won't forget my few hours of persecution for a long time"... Jesus Christ. Since when did we start breeding such weak whinging narcissistic little neurotics who get an attack of the uncontrollable exaggerated emotionals at the drop of a hat and just have to tell the rest of us? These eejits need to spine up and get some bloody perspective.

"I’m not exaggerating". Yes. Yes you are. On motorways I regularly tootle along at 90 clicks and rarely go above 100 unless overtaking. Saves on go go juice and gets me where I need to go quickly enough and I quite honestly can't remember a single incident like he describes. The odd time while overtaking at say 120 I have had the occasional muppet fly up behind me, but even then it's very rare I'd get any static from them(because I get the hell out of their way when it's safe to do so).

The Pheasant2

Wibbs wrote: »

"Bullying", "most horrible sensation", "I suffered it", "I wouldn’t want to have to go through it again", "chilling", "I won't forget my few hours of persecution for a long time"... Jesus Christ. Since when did we start breeding such weak whinging narcissistic little neurotics who get an attack of the uncontrollable exaggerated emotionals at the drop of a hat and just have to tell the rest of us? These eejits need to spine up and get some bloody perspective.

"I’m not exaggerating". Yes. Yes you are. On motorways I regularly tootle along at 90 clicks and rarely go above 100 unless overtaking. Saves on go go juice and gets me where I need to go quickly enough and I quite honestly can't remember a single incident like he describes. The odd time while overtaking at say 120 I have had the occasional muppet fly up behind me, but even then it's very rare I'd get any static from them(because I get the hell out of their way when it's safe to do so).

A byproduct of our victimhood olympics media space no doubt.

Neyite

I came through a busy junction and a car in front was doing 35 in an 80 zone. Gave the muppet a bit of a chance thinking they had pulled out from the side and was going to build up speed.

Nope. That was her top speed. Everyone coming through the junction into the 80 zone picking up their speed only to slam on the brakes when they join the queue behind her. One of those who thinks anything above 40 is F1 and pontificates about speed killing folk on the roads.

You know what else kills? Slow oblivious assholes who drive 35 in an 80 zone causing frustration to other drivers who in turn make a poor decision to overtake the tailback caused by these idiots who never look in their mirrors unless it's to apply make-up or pick their nose.

topper75

Wibbs wrote: »

"Bullying", "most horrible sensation", "I suffered it", "I wouldn’t want to have to go through it again", "chilling", "I won't forget my few hours of persecution for a long time"...

The Pheasant2 wrote: »

A byproduct of our victimhood olympics media space no doubt.

They must have some secret thesaurus or book of must-use phrases for this stuff that they pass between them.

Anyway, we all clicked on it and that is what matters.

I know they can pick you up in the driving test for 'failing to make due progress' but I'd like to see a few penalty points thrown out for that in everyday driving too (not so much for 90 on Mway, but 35 in 80 zone is a two fingers to other drivers).

brevity

I stopped looking at drivers a long time ago. They could be giving me the finger or waving a shotgun and I would be completely oblivious.
Smile and wave boys. Smile and wave.

GreeBo

Do we know which lane he was driving in?

GreeBo

Neyite wrote: »

You know what else kills? Slow oblivious assholes who drive 35 in an 80 zone causing frustration to other drivers who in turn make a poor decision to overtake the tailback caused by these idiots who never look in their mirrors unless it's to apply make-up or pick their nose.

While it may be annoying, the highlighted bit of your post is still what causes the problem.

If you cant drive without doing something stupid when you are frustrated, then you shouldn't be driving. Driving with kids in the back is frustrating, being late is frustrating, rain is frustrating, if I crash while anyone of them are happening, its still me who crashed. I can blame the rain and the kids all I want, but I was the one in control who made the decision to do something stupid.

ohnonotgmail

GreeBo wrote: »

Do we know which lane he was driving in?

he said he was in the left lane

Neyite

GreeBo wrote: »

While it may be annoying, the highlighted bit of your post is still what causes the problem.

If you cant drive without doing something stupid when you are frustrated, then you shouldn't be driving. Driving with kids in the back is frustrating, being late is frustrating, rain is frustrating, if I crash while anyone of them are happening, its still me who crashed. I can blame the rain and the kids all I want, but I was the one in control who made the decision to do something stupid.

I'm happy to pootle behind until it's safe to over take. I'm generally a placid enough driver and rarely get annoyed.

But other muppets on the road are different to me. And when I was slowed down to 35 behind Slowcoach it's going to be fcuk all good to me when the car behind me is unable to stop in time and make sh!te of my car. And she sails on without so much as a backward glance at what her poor road use and bad driving skill has left in her exhaust fumes.

She's as dangerous a driver as the ones on their phones, the ones who overtake multiple cars in a row, the ones who apply make-up, and the drunks and speeders.

Larbre34

GreeBo wrote: »

Do we know which lane he was driving in?

Yes, he says the inside lane.

I have no problem flashing someone to move over who is doing less than the limit in the outside lane, or generally holding up the reasonable progress of cars in the outside lane, but I wouldn't dream of harassing anyone in the inside lane, and they are entitled to be left alone as long as their vehicle meets Motorway requirements.

Eddie mustve left his rear foglights on

Omackeral

Wibbs wrote: »

"Bullying", "most horrible sensation", "I suffered it", "I wouldn’t want to have to go through it again", "chilling", "I won't forget my few hours of persecution for a long time"... Jesus Christ. Since when did we start breeding such weak whinging narcissistic little neurotics who get an attack of the uncontrollable exaggerated emotionals at the drop of a hat and just have to tell the rest of us? These eejits need to spine up and get some bloody perspective.

"I’m not exaggerating". Yes. Yes you are. On motorways I regularly tootle along at 90 clicks and rarely go above 100 unless overtaking. Saves on go go juice and gets me where I need to go quickly enough and I quite honestly can't remember a single incident like he describes. The odd time while overtaking at say 120 I have had the occasional muppet fly up behind me, but even then it's very rare I'd get any static from them(because I get the hell out of their way when it's safe to do so).

It's easier just to call him a little bitch, the little bitch.

Pat Mustard

Imagine this head

Driving this car


*snigger*

server down

Lots of non believers here but I doubt he made the whole story up.

SEPT 23 1989

would love to see him on the M1 in the UK:D

muckwarrior

GreeBo wrote: »

Do we know which lane he was driving in?

People who bothered to read the story do, yes.

The_Valeyard

These slow drivers are extremely dangerous on Motorways. Particularly on the slip road to join the Motorway. Going 35-45kph of speed when trying to merge with traffic at 100-120kph is dangerous. These folks have no idea they are putting the cars behind them in danger.

Whispered

I never realised just how often drivers come too close to you until I had a child who travels in the back. I'm probably guilty of it myself before he was born to be totally honest.

Last week driving the athy - Dublin road an car came right up behind me flashing and beeping. It was an 80 zone. I was going 80 at least and a safe distance behind the car in front of me.

He was so close I couldn't see his reg. beeping, gesturing, flashing and driving so close; call me a whingey driver if you like but it absolutely is intimidating.

Cordell

Neyite wrote: »

idiots who never look in their mirrors unless it's to apply make-up or pick their nose.

If someone needs a mirror to pick their nose (i.e. they are unable to accurately locate their own nostrils without visual cues) then that someone does not belong on the road regardless.

retro:electro

Ara Jesus what's drama queen. I was reading along wondering when he was going to tell us what happened. "I won't forget my few hours of persecution for a long time".
Why is he so insistent on doing 90k and 90k only? That's a bit of an antagonistic attitude for a driver to have. Sure we all have the speed we are most comfortable with but to regimently stick to only doing 90k on a motorway seems a bit pedantic.
I have come across rude and aggressive drivers but they seem to be, for the most part, in the town or country roads. There is no need to be such a pissy wagon on a motorway.

Wibbs

Pat Mustard wrote: »

Driving this car


*snigger*

To be fair the Zoe is somewhat of a cute little car, unlike something like the Leaf which is a style vacuum.

BrokenArrows

GreeBo wrote: »

Do we know which lane he was driving in?

Yes, read the article.

jimmycrackcorm

elperello wrote:

As electric cars become more mainstream we may see more of this. Realistically it's a non-runner (no pun intended) to stop them using motorways.

You should challenge a Tesla model S driver to a race on the M1...

VinLieger

The guys an attention seeking twat, his bosses obviously told him he needs to get on board with the clickbait or else.

freshpopcorn

If your driving on the mototrway and there is traffic you should make an effort to keep up with the traffic otherwise use the old N/R road if you don't want to drive at higher speeds!

9or10

I can think of a better way to spell his name.

I now regret clicking the link for this makey-uppy story.

loveisdivine

Don't be tarring all electric car drivers with the same brush. I have a nissan leaf and my commute home is up the M1 from Swords to Dundalk, I fly along at at least 120 when traffic allows and move in when not over taking.

I can understand peoples frustration with someone doing 80 or 90, particularly on the M1 where it's only 2 lanes. Cos then you get people doing 95 or 100 that understandbly want to over take, but that then also slows down the people doing 120 or more. No motorway should be only 2 lanes really.

GreeBo

BrokenArrows wrote: »

Yes, read the article.

muckwarrior wrote: »

People who bothered to read the story do, yes.

Or those who read the posts that replied to my question.
But thanks for playing.

TheChizler

[Deleted User] wrote: »

If truck that are limited to 90 are overtaking him he is doing 80.

I've been overtaken by arctics while doing the limit of 100 (or slightly above) on cruise control and verified by speedo and sat nav. There are definitely people out there disabling the 90 km/h limitation.

Edit: is that even the threshold? I'm pretty sure it's 97 km/h in the UK, could be English trucks.