Why is most of Ireland so inept at dealing with snow?

BKtje · 30-11-2010 05:38PM

Started snowing here and within 10 minutes we have a truck going around scraping and salting the roads. That said it snows here heavily enough every winter so they always prepared

fedor.2. · 30-11-2010 05:39PM

liah wrote: »

When I first moved to Ireland I was greatly amused during my first winter watching entire cities shut down and no one knowing what to do with themselves after one or two inches' worth of snowfall. Coming from the Great White North myself, I didn't quite get it-- in my town we regularly dealt with 2-3ft of snow during the winter and even the tiniest towns still functioned perfectly, excluding a day off from school (though that was reserved for seriously bad blizzardy weather, just snow alone never stopped it ).

I remember last year Dublin was completely jammed and basically shut down for hours because no one could get around with the traffic, accidents, abandoned cars, etc, not to mention how many people were left without water for over a month in some places. Even now, this year, after what appears to be a only a few inches (from pics I've seen as I'm no longer there) people are abandoning their cars on the side of the road! :pac:

I don't get it, this is three years in a row where there's been at least 2-3 inches on the ground. I'm assuming it's happened many a time before. Why is Ireland still so inept at dealing with it?

I reckon a few people would make a fortune if they decided to add a snowplow to the front of their vehicles, bought a couple bags of salt and offered to do small roads and long driveways for a fee.

But seriously, why aren't there enough ploughs and salt put out and why aren't people using winter tires? Loads of other countries cope fine with much worse weather.

Someone explain?

Who snows, its a mystery:pac:

aero2k · 30-11-2010 05:39PM

liah wrote: »

When I first moved to Ireland I was greatly amused during my first winter watching entire cities shut down and no one knowing what to do with themselves after one or two inches' worth of snowfall. Coming from the Great White North myself, I didn't quite get it-- in my town we regularly dealt with 2-3ft of snow during the winter and even the tiniest towns still functioned perfectly, excluding a day off from school (though that was reserved for seriously bad blizzardy weather, just snow alone never stopped it ).

I remember last year Dublin was completely jammed and basically shut down for hours because no one could get around with the traffic, accidents, abandoned cars, etc, not to mention how many people were left without water for over a month in some places. Even now, this year, after what appears to be a only a few inches (from pics I've seen as I'm no longer there) people are abandoning their cars on the side of the road! :pac:

Yeah, I had a few work trips to Switzerland and saw what it's like in a country where they prepare for the snow - snow 6ft deep at the edge of the footpaths where it's been ploughed - and clear roads! No fear driving either, our rental car with winter tyres had no trouble on the hills.

liah wrote: »

I don't get it, this is three years in a row where there's been at least 2-3 inches on the ground. I'm assuming it's happened many a time before. Why is Ireland still so inept at dealing with it?

Well, to my memory it's only two years in a row it's been this bad, last time before that was late '81/early 82. One of the problems is that it's not a regular occurrence, and that it's only for a week or two duration, so the capital investment for snow ploughs, not to mention trained drivers with all the health and safety regulations, would be prohibitive. And anyway, in case you didn't hear, the Irish taxpayer is busy bailing out German, French and UK banks, so we haven't got enough left to buy a bag of salt, let alone a snowplough.

liah wrote: »

I reckon a few people would make a fortune if they decided to add a snowplow to the front of their vehicles, bought a couple bags of salt and offered to do small roads and long driveways for a fee.

This is Ireland. You'd end up getting sued if you missed a tiny bit and someone fell or crashed.

liah wrote: »

But seriously, why aren't there enough ploughs and salt put out and why aren't people using winter tires?

That would require a sense of personal responsibility.:rolleyes: Remember this is a country where after a major motorway pile-up people were on the radio and in the papers complaining that the Automobile Association hadn't told them there was fog in certain areas. FFS! I bet they weren't even members...

Oh, just noticed this is AH and I've given a serious answer, so

Mary Harney / yore ma!

maxxie · 30-11-2010 05:40PM

we like a challenge! :cool:

Forest Master · 30-11-2010 05:41PM

BKtje wrote: »

Started snowing here and within 10 minutes we have a truck going around scraping and salting the roads. That said it snows here heavily enough every winter so they always prepared

That'd be fascinating if we knew where you were.

syklops · 30-11-2010 05:46PM

liah wrote: »

When I first moved to Ireland I was greatly amused during my first winter watching entire cities shut down and no one knowing what to do with themselves after one or two inches' worth of snowfall. Coming from the Great White North myself, I didn't quite get it-- in my town we regularly dealt with 2-3ft of snow during the winter and even the tiniest towns still functioned perfectly, excluding a day off from school (though that was reserved for seriously bad blizzardy weather, just snow alone never stopped it ).

I remember last year Dublin was completely jammed and basically shut down for hours because no one could get around with the traffic, accidents, abandoned cars, etc, not to mention how many people were left without water for over a month in some places. Even now, this year, after what appears to be a only a few inches (from pics I've seen as I'm no longer there) people are abandoning their cars on the side of the road! :pac:

I don't get it, this is three years in a row where there's been at least 2-3 inches on the ground. I'm assuming it's happened many a time before. Why is Ireland still so inept at dealing with it?

I reckon a few people would make a fortune if they decided to add a snowplow to the front of their vehicles, bought a couple bags of salt and offered to do small roads and long driveways for a fee.

But seriously, why aren't there enough ploughs and salt put out and why aren't people using winter tires? Loads of other countries cope fine with much worse weather.

Someone explain?

Well aren't you feckin' great?

liah · 30-11-2010 05:50PM

syklops wrote: »

Well aren't you feckin' great?

I wasn't trying to rub it in! It amuses me, yes, but I don't think I'm better because of it. Was just askin'!

Mrmoe · 30-11-2010 05:51PM

Overall we are coping well, the vast majority of roads are gritted well and while there has been some disruption to public transport it is mostly moving along quite smoothly. This type of weather is a rare occurance for this country. I can count on one hand the number of years where we received serious snow fall with last year probably being the worst in my lifetime and that of my parents. It would not be prudent to have excessive preparation for rare weather occurance.

sue_ · 30-11-2010 05:52PM

I heard on the radio this morning that south Dublin county council had 7 snowploughs on the road clearing them, and AA roadwatch website says there is a snowplough clearing road between Athleague and Roscommon and Roscommon and Athlone. Unfortunately Westmeath County Council don't have 1, forgot to grit anywhere last night and half the main roads were impassable this morning due to jackknifed trucks or trucks stuck on hills. And in the middle of that some MANIAC overtook me this morn. Some people shouldnt be allowed on the roads,

Nodin · 30-11-2010 05:53PM

liah wrote: »

I wasn't trying to rub it in! It amuses me, yes, but I don't think I'm better because of it. Was just askin'!

No point denying it. The 'Canada Uber Alles' attitude is notorious.

Voodu Child · 30-11-2010 05:54PM

We are crap at dealing with snow for the same reason an Eskimo is crap at building sand-castles, and an arab probably doesnt have an umbrella and wellies handy.

liah · 30-11-2010 05:55PM

Nodin wrote: »

No point denying it. The 'Canada Uber Alles' attitude is notorious.

I really can't deny it now that you've added the "Uber Alles" bit considering I'm Canadian with a German surname living in Germany..

Touche.

darragh16 · 30-11-2010 05:56PM

In times like these we should use more public transport....

Nodin · 30-11-2010 05:57PM

Mrmoe wrote: »

Overall we are coping well, the vast majority of roads are gritted well and while there has been some disruption to public transport it is mostly moving along quite smoothly. This type of weather is a rare occurance for this country. I can count on one hand the number of years where we received serious snow fall with last year probably being the worst in my lifetime and that of my parents. It would not be prudent to have excessive preparation for rare weather occurance.

No, 1982 was the worst.

Local-womanizer · 30-11-2010 05:57PM

Its around 8 inches up with us,and we get on grand.

It was worse last year,and nothing was said about the snow until it hit Dublin around 2-3 weeks after we had it. And to get to anywhere up here you always have to go up a fecking hill!

We have always managed,yes schools may be closed but that is because of the lack of grit on the many back roads we have in Donegal and the safety concerns for the buses full of children.

Its never got to the stage were we stockpile food and sit in the hall behind an up-turned table with a loaded shotgun!

And loads up here have snow tires,mainly the taxi drivers,so now you can get anywhere no problem

Orando Broom · 30-11-2010 05:57PM

darragh16 wrote: »

In times like these we should use more public transport....

We need.........THE ICE ROAD TRUCKERS!!!!!!

TouchingVirus · 30-11-2010 05:58PM

liah wrote: »

I really can't deny it now that you've added the "Uber Alles" bit considering I'm Canadian with a German surname living in Germany..

Touche.

But..But... you were here at some stage, right?

liah · 30-11-2010 05:59PM

TouchingVirus wrote: »

But..But... you were here at some stage, right?

From Sep 1st '08 to July 12th '10, yep. Just short of two years.

Donkey Oaty · 30-11-2010 06:00PM

Orando Broom wrote: »

We need.........THE ICE ROAD TRUCKERS!!!!!!

Buy that man a drink.

It's an underrated programme.

Skinfull · 30-11-2010 06:01PM

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

nobody has winter tyres
most people don't know how to drive properly on snow / ice / slush
most people don't care enough to clear the footpaths in front of their house / workplace
we have no really heavy clearing equipment, ploughs and such as the few few days / weeks a year of snow does not justify them, especially considering some winters we don't get any snow.

basically its not a common occurance so we are not equipped to deal with it and it is cost prohibitive to invest in proper materials and infrastructure to deal with it.

Actually I NEVER clean the front of my place or my workplace. I used to but then the council told me that if a pedestrian walks by the front of my store and slips, they can sue me because I put salt/grit on the footpath. If I had let it be they can't sue me. Sucks, especially when the council either don't care enough to do a good job or don't have the resources.

Sanjuro · 30-11-2010 06:01PM

Quick answer- Take one look at who our minister for transport is.

Luxie · 30-11-2010 06:01PM

Nodin wrote: »

No, 1982 was the worst.

Definitely. Had the week off school that year and prior to that had only ever seen proper snow on d'telly.

GeeNorm · 30-11-2010 06:04PM

It doesn't snow in Ireland. Growing up my little sister (born '86) would often spot a photo from the family album of the rest of us playing in snow. She was jealous because she had basically never seen any.

I plan on waiting another week before the snow clears and I can get into town to buy decent snow boots. They'll then go into the attic for me to laugh at every year when I bring the christmas decorations down in balmy 6 degrees.

ciagr297 · 30-11-2010 06:05PM

aero2k wrote: »

This is Ireland. You'd end up getting sued if you missed a tiny bit and someone fell or crashed.

just after listening to one of those personal injury solicitors on the radio there.

you are completely liable if someone falls on your property
you also assume liability if you grit the footpath outside your front gate, even though it should be the responsibility of the county council.
if people become used to you applying grit as a "goodwill" gesture, and then you don't, you are deemed liable as well
if the mix of sand and salt you use isn't correct(?) and it is found to be the cause of someone falling, you are liable (if they prove it was you who put it there)

no way to win

rossie1977 · 30-11-2010 06:05PM

as anyone who has lived on this island for an extended period (10+ years) will tell you, snow and ice are extremely rare, temperatures below -10c are very rare, large snowfalls happen once every 30 years, not realistic comparing ireland to canada where large parts become basically a giant icebox from december to end of february every year

same in england, a few cms of snow there shuts down the country too

i suppose you could say "why doesn't ireland/england have the tools to deal with it just in case", well someone else would say "why didn't new orleans deal with katrina properly, it was a hurricane prone area afterall"

Nate--IRL-- · 30-11-2010 06:06PM

Skinfull wrote: »

Actually I NEVER clean the front of my place or my workplace. I used to but then the council told me that if a pedestrian walks by the front of my store and slips, they can sue me because I put salt/grit on the footpath. If I had let it be they can't sue me. Sucks, especially when the council either don't care enough to do a good job or don't have the resources.

I always thought that was a myth. Is it something to do with "Duty of Care" or some such Health and safety Bollocks?

Edit:- Just saw ciagr297's post. Madness

Nate

AlmightyCushion · 30-11-2010 06:06PM

GeeNorm wrote: »

It doesn't snow in Ireland. Growing up my little sister (born '86) would often spot a photo from the family album of the rest of us playing in snow. She was jealous because she had basically never seen any.

I plan on waiting another week before the snow clears and I can get into town to buy decent snow boots. They'll then go into the attic for me to laugh at every year when I bring the christmas decorations down in balmy 6 degrees.

I was born in 86 as well and I've seen a good bit of snow when I was growing up.

biko · 30-11-2010 06:07PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjiwBwBL4Qo

TouchingVirus · 30-11-2010 06:08PM

liah wrote: »

From Sep 1st '08 to July 12th '10, yep. Just short of two years.

Good, I don't like outsiders *narrows eyes* :pac:

liah · 30-11-2010 06:09PM

Haha, what a cheesey video :pac:

Canada and rap just don't seem like an effective combo.

Why is most of Ireland so inept at dealing with snow?

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