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I hate the M50 [Warning post #222]

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    #722
    Drum Maigh Eo
    Registered Users Posts: 90 ✭✭Drum Maigh Eo


    Hi everyone,

    Whats the journey time like from lucan to drimnagh in the morning these days? We have an appointment at the children's hospital for 9am.
    Am I better off using the M50 or going through ballyfermot ?

    Thanks,
    G


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    #723
    duffman3833
    Registered Users Posts: 1,036 ✭✭✭duffman3833


    so i went for a road trip to Kerry for work and had to go on the m50, still cant believe people drive on this daily and don't go insane, i was going mad at drivers pushing their way in front of me the whole time, and see a few leaving it till last second to take their exit. People drive at different speeds in each lane so it hard to tell which lane is moving best. Indicators seems to be optional extra on a lot of cars, never used. Overall i think it the most stressful road in Ireland and something needs to be done to improve it, but nothing will unfortunately


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    #724
    ThisRegard
    Closed Accounts Posts: 27,834 ✭✭✭✭ThisRegard


    If you didn't let things such as people trying to merge in front of you or trying to figure out what lane is moving the fastest, your experience will be a lot more pleasant. Accept the fact you can do nothing about it and relax with a bit of music or something.


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    #725
    duffman3833
    Registered Users Posts: 1,036 ✭✭✭duffman3833


    ThisRegard wrote: »
    If you didn't let things such as people trying to merge in front of you or trying to figure out what lane is moving the fastest, your experience will be a lot more pleasant. Accept the fact you can do nothing about it and relax with a bit of music or something.

    thing is i did that but people will merge in front of you with the smallest of gaps


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    #726
    trellheim
    Registered Users Posts: 5,888 ✭✭✭trellheim


    yep but you can't change them . For every sensible person there are 5 on their phone and 5 who think they are a better driver than everyone else.


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    #727
    ThisRegard
    Closed Accounts Posts: 27,834 ✭✭✭✭ThisRegard


    duffman3833 wrote: »
    thing is i did that but people will merge in front of you with the smallest of gaps

    They don't get any further than you quicker, and it's easier to leave a decent gap in front of you so you're not constantly accelerating/braking anyway.


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    #728
    storker
    Registered Users Posts: 5,653 ✭✭✭storker


    First Up wrote: »
    Yes, police cars are invariably in the outside lane, which they seem to think is their birthright. I've also seen RSA vehicles sailing along in the middle lane, only crossing the driving lane en route to the exit.

    I have never seen lane behavior enforced, nor have I ever seen anything on the overhead gantry about it.

    Ditto aggressive tailgating.


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    #729
    OldMrBrennan83
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26,658 ✭✭✭✭OldMrBrennan83


    This post has been deleted.


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    #730
    HiGlo
    Registered Users Posts: 561 ✭✭✭HiGlo


    The level of lane hogging on the M50 is pure astounding.... Day in, day out.....
    I can only dream of lane enforcement. Pretty sure it'll never happen. The ignorance is too deep routed now.


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    #731
    PowerToWait
    Registered Users Posts: 1,775 ✭✭✭PowerToWait


    I hate using it. A lot of the driving is seriously poor as we all know. But recently I've had a few incidents of deliberately aggressive bullying behaviour.

    Most serious was an artic on the toll bridge north bound. He merged on, continued up my left in the exit lane for Castleknock, found he had no road left, no gap to get in and so just pushed out in front of me, forcing me to brake hard AND move right to avoid going under his trailer.

    Any recommendations for dash cams?


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    #732
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    there are several threads in the motoring forums that specialise in recommending dash cams.


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    #733
    paddyland
    Closed Accounts Posts: 932 ✭✭✭paddyland


    PowerToWait wrote: »
    I hate using it. A lot of the driving is seriously poor as we all know. But recently I've had a few incidents of deliberately aggressive bullying behaviour.

    Most serious was an artic on the toll bridge north bound. He merged on, continued up my left in the exit lane for Castleknock, found he had no road left, no gap to get in and so just pushed out in front of me, forcing me to brake hard AND move right to avoid going under his trailer.

    Any recommendations for dash cams?

    An articulated truck merged onto the M50 northbound, was given no gap to join the main flow, and had to force his way into traffic or else be forced off the M50 again, and HE'S the bully?

    Did it ever occur to you to either accelerate ahead of him, or else fall back and give him a gap to go? Why will cars NEVER allow trucks on speed limiters enough space to merge? They sit alongside trucks, either in ignorance or deliberately, and will not give them safe space to manoeuvre.

    You must have been able to make a good guess that he would need to move right, so was it such a terrible thing to anticipate that and give him the space to go, instead of forcing him to the last minute?

    Never sit doggedly on the right hand side of a truck. Either accelerate ahead, or fall back. Only the ignorant sit beside him, blocking him in. I have NEVER been cut up by a truck. They are the safest drivers on the M50. And, NO, I am NOT a truck driver.


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    #734
    Macy0161
    Registered Users Posts: 9,325 ✭✭✭Macy0161


    paddyland wrote: »
    Never sit doggedly on the right hand side of a truck. Either accelerate ahead, or fall back. Only the ignorant sit beside him, blocking him in. I have NEVER been cut up by a truck. They are the safest drivers on the M50. And, NO, I am NOT a truck driver.
    Well I've witnessed plenty of times trucks take every last cm (and then some of the chevrons) of auxillary lanes and force themselves in on top of the first driving lane when they could've merged several times safely on the way up, but they just want to get out ahead of as many other vehicles as possible.

    I've also witnessed them illegally in the outside overtaking lane on the M50. They're just as likely to have poor lane discipline and be hogging the first overtaking lane. Perhaps more likely to be on mobiles, and tailgating.

    They're proportionally just as likely to be poor drivers in my experience, only they're driving something that can do even more damage than a car.


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    #735
    paddyland
    Closed Accounts Posts: 932 ✭✭✭paddyland


    Macy0161 wrote: »
    Well I've witnessed plenty of times trucks take every last cm (and then some of the chevrons) of auxillary lanes and force themselves in on top of the first driving lane when they could've merged several times safely on the way up, but they just want to get out ahead of as many other vehicles as possible.

    I've also witnessed them illegally in the outside overtaking lane on the M50. They're just as likely to have poor lane discipline and be hogging the first overtaking lane. Perhaps more likely to be on mobiles, and tailgating.

    They're proportionally just as likely to be poor drivers in my experience, only they're driving something that can do even more damage than a car.
    I'm on that road constantly, and I see very little of that. You must be doing something odd on the road, if you are feeling that amount of aggression from truck drivers. How come I can share the road with them without any problems?


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    #736
    Macy0161
    Registered Users Posts: 9,325 ✭✭✭Macy0161


    paddyland wrote:
    I'm on that road constantly, and I see very little of that. You must be doing something odd on the road, if you are feeling that amount of aggression from truck drivers. How come I can share the road with them without any problems?
    I didn't say feel, I said witnessed. I've been the one leaving them space to merge in front of me, when they've decided it's more important to get two cars further ahead and force their way in where there wasn't space.


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    #737
    duffman3833
    Registered Users Posts: 1,036 ✭✭✭duffman3833


    paddyland wrote: »
    An articulated truck merged onto the M50 northbound, was given no gap to join the main flow, and had to force his way into traffic or else be forced off the M50 again, and HE'S the bully?
    Its not just the m50, i see it on m1 motorway where there is plenty of time to move into different lane, even happens myself where people just sit in left lane when cars trying to merge and they don't speed up or slow down to allow any traffic to join. On the m50 it can be harder at times with the amount of traffic but a lot of people don't move to allow merging traffic


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    #738
    irlirishkev
    Registered Users Posts: 2,505 ✭✭✭irlirishkev


    duffman3833 wrote: »
    Its not just the m50, i see it on m1 motorway where there is plenty of time to move into different lane, even happens myself where people just sit in left lane when cars trying to merge and they don't speed up or slow down to allow any traffic to join. On the m50 it can be harder at times with the amount of traffic but a lot of people don't move to allow merging traffic

    Exactly this!

    I was merging on to the M50 on Friday evening, from the Red Cow. Lashing rain, and poor visibility. Not one car to my right had left enough room between to join the lane. I only managed to get out before hitting the hard shoulder, by squeezing in, and then de-ccelerating to put space between me and the car in front.

    I just don't understand why people don't leave space..


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    #739
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    irlirishkev wrote: »

    I just don't understand why people don't leave space..
    Because it's their space and they're not giving it up for anyone else!


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    #740
    OldMrBrennan83
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26,658 ✭✭✭✭OldMrBrennan83


    This post has been deleted.


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    #741
    lawred2
    Registered Users Posts: 24,304 ✭✭✭✭lawred2


    paddyland wrote: »
    An articulated truck merged onto the M50 northbound, was given no gap to join the main flow, and had to force his way into traffic or else be forced off the M50 again, and HE'S the bully?

    Did it ever occur to you to either accelerate ahead of him, or else fall back and give him a gap to go? Why will cars NEVER allow trucks on speed limiters enough space to merge? They sit alongside trucks, either in ignorance or deliberately, and will not give them safe space to manoeuvre.

    You must have been able to make a good guess that he would need to move right, so was it such a terrible thing to anticipate that and give him the space to go, instead of forcing him to the last minute?

    Never sit doggedly on the right hand side of a truck. Either accelerate ahead, or fall back. Only the ignorant sit beside him, blocking him in. I have NEVER been cut up by a truck. They are the safest drivers on the M50. And, NO, I am NOT a truck driver.

    Was with you until the last line


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    #742
    Cookie_Monster
    Registered Users Posts: 24,485 ✭✭✭✭Cookie_Monster


    irlirishkev wrote: »

    I just don't understand why people don't leave space..

    because they're under no obligation what so ever to do so. if you are merging its your problem to adapt to the traffic already in the lane, not their problem to alter their driving to let you in.

    Yes, common sense and decency says move right and allow people to merge if you can, but you shouldn't have to change your speed etc to do so.


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    #743
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Cookie_Monster wrote: »
    because they're under no obligation what so ever to do so. if you are merging its your problem to adapt to the traffic already in the lane, not their problem to alter their driving to let you in.

    Yes, common sense and decency says move right and allow people to merge if you can, but you shouldn't have to change your speed etc to do so.
    But you are obliged to leave a gap for them to merge into!
    It may not be written in law, however the merging traffic has to go somewhere.


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    #744
    Seth Brundle
    Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 39,203 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    Deleted User wrote: »
    But you are obliged to leave a gap for them to merge into!
    It may not be written in law, however the merging traffic has to go somewhere.
    You are not obliged. It's just an acto of courtesy!

    The amount of times that I've let someone in who then decides to drive more slowly than the rest of traffic (quite often using their brakes to slow down) is sufficient deterrent to me to make me think twice about letting someone in!


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    #745
    shar01
    Registered Users Posts: 817 ✭✭✭shar01


    And it's getting worse...

    Heavy traffic from Ashford on the M11 this morning around 7.

    I wonder would interactive speed signs, chevrons on the road and cameras to pick up tail-gating make a difference. We shouldn't have to resort to these measures but as common courtesy or even basic cop-on has gone out the window maybe it is time for these.

    From listening to Dublin City's Livedrive it appears that the majority of the accidents are in the right hand lane.

    Just before Cherrywood junction (going north) this morning the traffic slowed suddenly in the r/h lane. Merc wasn't paying attention and swerved into left lane, just missing a truck. Could've been very nasty.


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    #746
    plodder
    Registered Users Posts: 7,167 ✭✭✭plodder


    kbannon wrote: »
    You are not obliged. It's just an acto of courtesy!
    It's an act of courtesy, but I wouldn't assume that it's not an obligation. The road traffic acts and regulations don't have answers for all possible scenarios that arise, eg. this situation where nobody lets a vehicle into the main carriageway. If an accident happened, I can imagine lots of situations where a judge would hold the driver already on the motorway liable, and in many other cases, partly liable.


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    #747
    Macy0161
    Registered Users Posts: 9,325 ✭✭✭Macy0161


    plodder wrote: »
    It's an act of courtesy, but I wouldn't assume that it's not an obligation. The road traffic acts and regulations don't have answers for all possible scenarios that arise, eg. this situation where nobody lets a vehicle into the main carriageway. If an accident happened, I can imagine lots of situations where a judge would hold the driver already on the motorway liable, and in many other cases, partly liable.
    The rules of the road are pretty explicit that you're to give way to traffic already on the motorway.


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    #748
    HeidiHeidi
    Registered Users Posts: 28,994 ✭✭✭✭HeidiHeidi


    Macy0161 wrote: »
    The rules of the road are pretty explicit that you're to give way to traffic already on the motorway.
    If you take that to it's logical conclusion, though - a truck (or even a car, but a truck is the extreme example) comes down a slip road to merge onto X motorway. Slip road is only so long.

    If all the traffic in the left-hand lane takes the above attitude and continues merrily driving along and refuses/fails to open up a gap to let the truck in what happens? The truck winds up stopped in the slip lane or the hard shoulder immediately after, or else has to force their way over into the driving lane.

    That's dangerous on a load of different fronts.

    Driving is interactive, of course you have to give and take in a scenario like that.


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    #749
    plodder
    Registered Users Posts: 7,167 ✭✭✭plodder


    Macy0161 wrote: »
    The rules of the road are pretty explicit that you're to give way to traffic already on the motorway.
    I agree the obligation is mostly on the driver joining, but there are situations where it isn't clear cut. Eg, if the driver on the motorway is speeding, or if he "closes the gap" just as the other driver tries to join, not an uncommon occurrence.


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    #750
    Macy0161
    Registered Users Posts: 9,325 ✭✭✭Macy0161


    HeidiHeidi wrote: »
    If all the traffic in the left-hand lane takes the above attitude and continues merrily driving along and refuses/fails to open up a gap to let the truck in what happens? The truck winds up stopped in the slip lane or the hard shoulder immediately after, or else has to force their way over into the driving lane.
    Ultimately, they should stop, and not force their way in.

    Vehicles in the driving lane should enable vehicles to merge, but if they don't, the onus is on the vehicle merging to stop/ give way, not force their way in.

    Very rare in Ireland that any one uses the full slip to get up to speed to merge seamlessly anyway, but that's a different issue...


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    #751
    Macy0161
    Registered Users Posts: 9,325 ✭✭✭Macy0161


    plodder wrote: »
    I agree the obligation is mostly on the driver joining, but there are situations where it isn't clear cut. Eg, if the driver on the motorway is speeding, or if he "closes the gap" just as the other driver tries to join, not an uncommon occurrence.
    It is clear cut. Onus is on the vehicle joining to give way, regardless of the behaviour of those in the driving lane.


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