Slow down day...again

BronsonTB

Slow down day tomorrow

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2021/1020/1254794-road-safety/

How about a 'Fix your lights' day!!!

The amount with 1 working headlight, no lights on, no rear lights, no working brake lights, one tail light/brake light etc...

How about targeting these drivers with zero tolerance & on the spot fines???

I don't support a slow down day....I see speed checks everyday & all these drivers with bad lighting and nothing said to them! (They are safey issue every time they start there engines & it's ignored by all (accept NCT test on one day)

Miscreant

Totally agree with your sentiment here but nothing will change in this country without enforcement. The same discussion is brought up at around this time of year, every year. 🙂

For one day only it's not a revenue making exercise.

"Gardaí have said they will target rural roads with speed checks, as almost four out of five road fatalities so far this year have occurred on routes where an 80km speed limit applies."

Who'd have thought there'd be less fatalities on motorways and DCs?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118048015#Comment_118048015

My local road has an 80 Km/hr limit and I have to stop to let people pass but the traffic drives as close to 80 as they can despite actually being closer to 40-50 Km/hr to be safe.

I'd say more the problem on actual 80 roads is junctions and people pulling in and out but I would say the greatest issue on the road today is the phone, that's an awful lot of road not seen while someone checks for the likes on facebook.

My local village has a 50 Km/hr limit and you can hardly do 40 yet people do way more and couldn't care less.

In Germany they have a lot of fixed speed traps and 40 Km/hr limit and they all obey this, they can see where the traps, we need a lot more of these but Irish answer is to do speed checks on motorways and on good quality roads where people can safely do a little more speed and to hell with the back roads and towns/villages.

DoctorEdgeWild

A better 'Day' would be a 'Learn how to do basic maintenance on your car day' - Have a few car parks where people can drive in and be SHOWN how to change a bulb, fluids, check oil etc. I think that would be a good initiative and would improve overall road safety.

(Although perhaps modern cars and their design has put paid to this kind of routine maintenance)

colm_mcm

Don’t worry, it’ll be “don’t bother slowing down day” again tomorrow

Interslice

Lovely, I've a 3 hour drive on rural roads to do tomorrow.

Vaccinated30

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118049243#Comment_118049243

Youre asked in a driving test to show where all fluids are to show you can do it.

I think all full licenced drivers should have to take a refresher course/6 lessons before every renewal of their licence

MBE220d

Why not have a day of pulling muppets that drive along at 60 kms on national routes with 20+ cars stuck behind them, these clowns are a lot more dangerous than the ones that are speeding.

Leonard Hofstadter

Isn't every day 'slow down day' (or a variation on that theme)?

Jeremy Sproket

I can see your reasoning behind targeting lights ... but mistakes can and do happen.

I drive an old Nissan Micra. It's tough as boots and I can change the headlight in seconds. I always have spare rear lights and dipped bulbs in the glovebox.

Other modern cars ... not as easy. Some require the bumper to be removed, torx screwdrivers etc. Even me, 148 cm tall and 47 kg slender as hell would struggle in some cars to get my hand in. You can't punish those people. Headlights can blow at any time and it would be very unfair to get points minutes after you get a blown bulb if enforcement was as strong as you propose.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118049190#Comment_118049190

I agree with a lot of this, but the Germans are not any different. I have spent a lot of times in Germany over the last 20 years, and they have muppets like every where

SupplyandDemandZone

Bulbs can go at any time and aren't the drivers fault, speeding is. Massive difference.

elperello

Apparently there is a high proportion of accidents on 80kph roads so the Slow Down Day is trying to get through to the people who drive on them which can't be a bad thing.

One thing I notice when driving on these roads is the number of drivers who seem incapable of staying on their own side of the road even when going around bends.

If you are driving around a blind bend with the o/s front wheel cocked out over the middle of the road you only need to meet someone of similar mindset coming the other way for disaster to ensue.

mikeecho

(you're) damned if you do and damned if you don't

BronsonTB

Just to remind folks, it's the law to have 2 working headlights & taillights at all times.

Of course bulbs go, but they must be replaced as soon as possible & alot don't bother until they have a test coming up. If you check them everytime you start a journey, you'll know pretty quick if they've gone.

If they are hard to replace, go to the garage & get them replaced, pure laziness & should be punished with fines only, not points for it.

I see the same cars with blown lights everyday, they are too lazy to replace & I'd like to see more enforcement over this rather than a one day 'slow down day'.

Every f***** day is s 'slow down day', it's the law...

@Mikeecho - Nope if you keep lights working, you're not damned at all, only if you don't!

BronsonTB

Bit much doing them on the N4 today when they previously said it's rural roads today....stinks...

https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/newsireland/garda%c3%ad-catch-43-motorists-speeding-during-first-two-hours-of-national-slow-down-day/ar-AAPMjdf?li=BBr5HCU

robbiew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118050674#Comment_118050674

ok karen

highdef

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118052803#Comment_118052803

Better that speeding drivers are caught for it whatever road they may be on, rural, local, regional, national or motorway. Just because Gardai said that the focus is on rural roads today doesn't make it the case that drivers using all non-rural roads can expect no checks at all and think it's a free for all for whatever speed over the limit they may choose to drive at.

It stinks that you are unhappy that drivers who either choose to break the law by driving over the limit or else drive over the limit due to lack of observation and extremely basic driving skills are being punished for it.

Allinall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118052803#Comment_118052803

How is it a bit much?

Guy/ gal was speeding.

The J Stands for Jay

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118050620#Comment_118050620

You've a 3 hour and 5 minutes drive to do then.

iColdFusion

When is it national fix the crappy roads day?

I don't even mean potholes which are bad enough but some roads are all over the shop with cambers, humps, bumps, crap visibility junctions, un-cut ditches and worst of all flooding and standing water, surely all that all has an effect on accidents? But of course that would require effort and cost money instead of bringing it in.

If they wiped out all the hedges and ran fields up to the road like you see on the continent we'd have much safer roads but that's an environmental no go.

A national remove the junkies from the streets day wouldn't be bad either.

BronsonTB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118052888#Comment_118052888

Yes but they do the N roads everyday!! Today was to be about the rural roads, so they said themselves!

Even see one is for the M4!!!

Just looking for headlines, zero respect to them...

@Highdef -They have limited resorces as it is...so when they are going to do something like this, they should do so, where people can be confidend they are trying to catch & imporve driving on rural roads, it's one f****** day for rural roads & they can't get that right...(I'm not excusing anyone/anywhere for speeding!!)

Allinall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118053204#Comment_118053204

They never said they wouldn't be doing main roads.

Did you think speed limits wouldn't apply today on them?

BronsonTB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118053243#Comment_118053243

Of course not!! Today was suppose to be about 'rural' roads & catching drivers speeding on them accourding to thier own publicity....but reality it's not, it's everyroad so why the hell even mention rural roads in the publicity in the first place!!!!

They should have just said it's a slow down day with speed checks everywhere!

If they are on the N roads then there is less of them to be on rural roads.....

Allinall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118053283#Comment_118053283

From the RSA

While An Garda Síochána will be focusing its enforcement activity across all speed limit zones, there will be a focus on rural roads. This is because almost 4 out of 5 (78%)* fatalities to date this year have occurred on rural roads. These are roads with a speed limit of 80km/h or above.

highdef

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118053204#Comment_118053204

I actually can't believe you're so annoyed that drivers are being done for speeding on non-rural roads today. They are also doing speed checks on rural roads today in addition to the regular non-rural road speed checks as they normally put little focus on rural roads.

BronsonTB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118053674#Comment_118053674

No I'm not, I'm annoyed that they are not actively targeting as much of the rural roads as they possibly can today, based on their limited resources.

They are targeting ALL roads so it/'s just the same as every other day!!

Will have to agree to disagree with you on this one.

highdef

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118053694#Comment_118053694

But today they are putting focus on rural roads, normally they do not have much if any focus on rural roads. It would be completely wrong if they put all resources on L and R roads today and little or nothing on N and M roads.

Normally they target mainly R, N and M roads but today they are targeting ALL road types which is actually NOT the same as every other day.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118050957#Comment_118050957

They do but in my experience they're not as mad as here with their only intention is to speed to get there asap. In the more built up areas they don't speed as much either, probably due to more fixed speed traps.

mikeecho

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118050674#Comment_118050674

Nah.. I couldn't even be bothered with the yearly CPC class.

Being an old bàstard I've got grandfather rights ..... I'll get around to it at some stage.. when I actually need to.

Atlantic Dawn

Hopefully they take some people off the road driving in the fasccccccchhhhhhhhhttttttttttttttt lane of the motorway.

Duckjob

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118050812#Comment_118050812

By all means, write to your local superintendent about that.

... But in the meantime, you can still take care not to speed on National Slow Down Day. It's not either/or.

highdef

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118050812#Comment_118050812

Whilst I think that would be a great idea in principle, the Gardai could pull those drivers over but there's no point as there's no offence being committed for driving at 60 in an 80 or 100 zone with a big queue behind you as long as you are following the rules of the road otherwise. It's very annoying alright but not much that can be done.

Even though I drive right at the limit whenever I safely can, if I am driving on a good wide road (an ex-N road for example) at 80 in an 80 zone and someone comes up behind me, I will move to the left (if safe to do so) and let them pass. Whilst I don't speed myself, I'm not going to police other drivers if they choose to speed. If the person wants to drive faster than the limit, I am of the opinion that it's quite likely that they could be an aggressive type driver so I'd rather let them pass in an area that I would consider to be a safe place for me to pull over rather them have them perform a dangerous maneuverer having being behind me for several minutes or more, possibly putting me in danger in the process.

Jeremy Sproket

Is there anything to be said for a "Keep Left Unless Overtaking Day"?

highdef

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118054523#Comment_118054523

Yes, should be enforced and be punishable, IMO.

MBE220d

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118054517#Comment_118054517

I have no problem with people driving slow, but is it too much to ask them to move over if it is possible, I know there is no law to say you have to. But the likes tractor drivers can be fined for causing tailbacks and some of these new tractors are travelling a lot faster the some of these slow drivers that hog the road.

newcavanman

Certainly wasn't an issue on the roads yesterday, crash everywhere 😂😂

MBE220d

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118054093#Comment_118054093

National revenue collection day more like, but thanks for your concern anyway.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118050812#Comment_118050812

A lot more speeders cause accidents and an accident at speed is more likely to be fatal or serious.

Strumms

I’m reading there are 45 dedicated mobile speed detection vans in the country.

That’s averaging about less then two vans (it’s 1.7) per county.

BronsonTB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118055569#Comment_118055569

Don't forget all the garda speed check vans & patrol cars that also do regular speed checks. The go safe vans are in addition.

looksee

If the idiot who came round a corner on a rural road over the centre line because he was not in control of his vehicle, because he was going too fast, had slowed down to an appropriate speed he would not have taken off my side mirror. That is now costing me €120 to replace, plus a 1.5 hour round trip to get it done. Hopefully he did a similar amount of damage to himself.

On the other hand, another few inches and the car would have been sideswiped, so I suppose I should be grateful. But god forbid anyone should suggest people should slow down, because what about...

Duckjob

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118055455#Comment_118055455

Any other deflections or diversions do you want to throw out ?

If it was about revenue collection why would they go to all the time and expense of publicising a day- they can go out anytime and catch people. Or maybe we just need to grow up a little and act like the mature adults we're supposed to be when we're entrusted with piloting potentially deadly vehicles.

MBE220d

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118056795#Comment_118056795

It's cars we are talking about here not fighter jets, why don't they start with cutting the potentially deadly hedges along the side of the roads which is a lot more deadly than speeding around my way,

Duckjob

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118057052#Comment_118057052

Hedges can be an issue, I agree.. Go to a country like NL they're close to obsessive (in a good way) about maintaining clear lines of sights at junctions and ares of potential conflict. Once again though, it's not either/or.

Really, 3 people on average die on our roads every week. Is it really so very hard to just say- "You know what, whatever else is wrong with the roads I'll try to do this as my own contribution towards safer roads ?"

highdef

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118057052#Comment_118057052

I have lived in a rural area for 12 years and there are hedges on the sides of all the roads. Not once have I had reason to think that they are deadly. They're pretty static, only moving a couple of inches in high winds. How are they such a threat to my life? Quite concerned now that I have gone 12 years not knowing that hedges can somehow kill me. I walk and drive past them all the time!

PsychoPete

Do these slow down days actually make an impact?

BronsonTB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118057271#Comment_118057271

Overall it is a PR exercise - Be seen to do something positive

But they did catch over 490 so I'm sure it's impacted a few of them

MBE220d

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118057156#Comment_118057156

Good for you that you have hedges that don't grow. What type are the as I have yet to see one that doesn't grow out?

highdef

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118057836#Comment_118057836

They're fairly mixed but hawthorn would be the majority. They do of course grow but they are cut in the spring and autumn by the landowners. They were all cut a few weeks ago and everything looks lovely and neat and trim now. Can you show any examples of hedging that has grown across a roadway? I can't say that it's something I've ever witnessed except maybe after a storm when some tree or hedge limbs have been damaged.

It's almost certain that someone owns the land where you are seeing hedges growing out across the roadway. The landowner is responsible for ensuring that their hedging does not pose a danger to people. If you feel that such hedging is posing a safety risk, I would urge you to report it to the relevant authority. At least you can be satisfied that you've done your bit.