Roads: Did you know?

okane1

With many of us driving the length and breath of the county how about we give some tips when driving on unfamiliar roads or purely some information we get from reading the road.

For me, did you know when the ratio between the short and long white line (to indicated you can pass) reduces it means visibility is restricted, or on the approach to some other hazard. Find this handy if you're trying to pass out something which is giving you restricted visibility.

Whocare

If you're on unfamiliar Road and in hurry especially night driving use sat nav map on it to see if there any hard bend on road ahead .really only useful for hgv

mikeecho

1) Vanishing points.. if it's short, it's tight.

2) Wires on telegraph poles can give a good indication of the path of the road ahead when you can't see fully due to high ditches.

3) when dropping a gear, blip the accelerator so that the engine speed matches that of the car, so you get a nice smooth gear change.

4) when stopping, release the brake pedal just before you stop, then reapply it. That eliminates the jerk forward.

5) read the road ahead, stale green and red lights.. adjust your speed according.

bobbyy gee

A lot of roads now have a full white line when it's not needed years ago there was no white lines and less crashes also no speed signs
You would never see a crash

loyatemu

bobbyy gee wrote: »

A lot of roads now have a full white line when it's not needed years ago there was no white lines and less crashes

there were fewer cars, also they were smaller and they were slower. And despite all that there were far more road deaths. Overtaking on single carriageway roads is pretty much the number one cause of crashes, it's understandable they try to discourage it.

coylemj

bobbyy gee wrote: »

A lot of roads now have a full white line when it's not needed years ago there was no white lines and less crashes also no speed signs
You would never see a crash

Would you ever get real and give over that 'good old days' nonsense.

In every year from 1959 to 2007, there was over 300 road fatalities on Irish roads. It peaked at 640 in 1972.

In 2018 the number was 149. The previous year with a lower number was 1945, when they probably still had WW2 petrol rationing.

I can't find any official consolidated list of fatalities by year but whoever wrote up the article on Wikipedia has annotated notes to each year so they've done the research....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_road_traffic_accidents_deaths_in_Republic_of_Ireland_by_year

Vittu

Leave on time or leave early as this determines your driving style. Use indicators, use roundabouts correctly, pull out into traffic safely, take care on back roads as increased numbers out walking, cycling etc. Have patience.

Wishbone Ash

bobbyy gee wrote: »

A lot of roads now have a full white line when it's not needed years ago there was no white lines and less crashes also no speed signs
You would never see a crash

Complete and utter nonsense.

In the 1960's we had one quarter of the vehicles we have now yet the death toll was much higher. Driving is much safer nowadays.

Wildly Boaring

bobbyy gee wrote: »

A lot of roads now have a full white line when it's not needed years ago there was no white lines and less crashes also no speed signs
You would never see a crash

OK you're very wrong on the "Years ago = Less crashes"
How many years ago
50 = far far far fewer cars
30 = we had 100% to 150% more road deaths to today



BUT - the white line thing

Solid white lines on R and L roads are a funny thing
There is no design behind them
They are pretty much decided upon by the local engineer

The local engineer generally has to be risk averse
Say the road is being resurfaced.
The engineer only realistically has 2 options
1. Replace the lines exactly
2. Replace with more cautious lining.

The option to replace solid with broken is a risky one for the engineer to take.
99% of the time on a standard resurfacing job this engineer has no resources to get a check done on the lining to use.
So a decision to go more risky is his/her own decision.
Fatality on that road in 5 years time and the engineer in front of the judge trying to explain the rational for changing with no design check.
No incentive to do it.

The only way lines on L or R road get changed is when the overlay is part of a package being done with a design office involved (1 or 2 county councils have in-house - generally a design consultancy)

Sterling Archer

1. Never trust anyone on the road
2. On country roads, telegraph poles generally follow the road, at night oncoming cars lights will typically illuminate the wires, handy for tighter roads you aren't familiar with
3. If you take a wrong turn or position your car incorrectly just stay with it, take a few extra minutes to correct yourself rather than a risky move.
4. Be more mindful on country works during "working months" you will encounter large farm machinery - the driver will be more comfortable passing you than are passing them - stop if you need to.
5. Locals - know the road, will know where to pass you, again if you're uncomfortable slow down and indicate to let them past
6. Tailbacks - just be mindful of what's building up behind you
7. Read the road - a great skill to have but for a lot of people the just jump into there death machine a plod away not paying attention to anything, learn to read road surface changes, potholes, line changes, the way different ditches look.
8. Read other drivers - everyone can spot to crazy unsafe driver but try to watch what others are doing
7/8 would be easily described as those people who weave to avoid bumps
9. Low beam - just use dipped/low beam headlights all the time day or night, it makes you more visible (and should be the law)
10. Motorcycles, bikes, walkers - they tend to use the road also
11. Did I mention do not trust anyone - even if someone let's you out at a junction it doesn't mean the idiot behind them is paying attention.
12. See 11 and 1

Loads more but they are all simple things, in short pay attention, read the road and treat every other driver like they have no idea how a car works

This video is a fantastic example of reading what is ahead and all the things you should be actively aware of
https://youtu.be/82HjSq9YFyY

redcup342

Never stop if you are already moving when you have right of way to leave someone coming the opposite direction turn right. (unless of course you are stopping anyway to avoid driving into the junction when you cannot get out of it without stopping)

antodeco

I always give this advice to new drivers. Assume everyone in the road is a fcuking idiot.

Assume they are going to do a risky move.
Assume they are going to stop/drive out in front of you
Assume they are turning/not turning
Assume the most stupid thing they can do, they will do.
Assume they are going to do the opposite of what they look like they are going to do

It's saved me so many times.

beggars_bush

antodeco wrote: »

I always give this advice to new drivers. Assume everyone in the road is a fcuking idiot.

Assume they are going to do a risky move.
Assume they are going to stop/drive out in front of you
Assume they are turning/not turning
Assume the most stupid thing they can do, they will do.
Assume they are going to do the opposite of what they look like they are going to do

It's saved me so many times.

especially if driving a bmw, audi, merc or other fancy car

Sterling Archer

beggars_bush wrote: »

especially if driving a bmw, audi, merc or other fancy car

Or people carriers etc

frozenfrozen

the first thing to move when a car is pulling out of a junction into your path is their wheels so watch those for an extra bit of notice to what they're doing

do a shoulder check before changing lanes

check behind you before braking

if you haven't got the view through a bend travel at a speed you can stop in less than the distance you see to be clear. Half that distance if the road is narrow

when waiting for an overtaking opportunity look with your eyes not with your right foot, you can look up the inside of the vehicle in front on left hand bends.

use your brakes not your high beams if someone is pulling into your path

use the car in front to gauge the road surface to avoid potholes and to take a smoother line

travel at a speed you don't need to brake for every corner

scan from the far distance to what is near you constantly and know what your plan is before you approach any hazard including a vehicle you plan to overtake. Don't wait till you're on their bumper before you start looking for the overtake

do your braking before the corner and keep some acceleration on through the corner for stability

all of your inputs to steering, brakes, and acceleration should be progressive. On the way on and off

clean your glass and say no to chinese tyres. that's the end of my ted talk

neris

Don't sit alongside a hgv if you can avoid it. Get in front or hold behind and if you have to sit beside 1 either sit in front or behind his trailer wheels

i57dwun4yb1pt8

they take them in at night

timple23

On narrow roads give way to larger vehicles.

If turning right on a straight road with no oncoming traffic straddle both lanes before turning to prevent a car overtaking.