Would you drive to/in Dublin?*

Mint Sauce · 01-02-2012 06:57PM #1

*Obvously applies to people who dont live there.

I ask this because of the people who I know who dont live or have a regular reson to drive there, more and more wouldn't. This includs young/old, male/female, driving a few months/driving years.

Reasons are more traffic, the roads, motorway is too fast, etc etc.

Even went as far as someone who sat on with me when driving to another one of our Islands Citys for the first time, told them I had never driven there before when heading back home, they told me if they had known that, they me they would not have sat on as I had never driven the road before!

I can understand people might be nervous when driving to a different place for the first time, but surly it opens the arguement for more varied driving conditions in the test and lessons. In fairness I had the opertunity to drive on a HQDC during my lessons and in my test, so considered the Motorway to be just the same road but quicker. Had I not that opertunity, I to might have been appreshensive the first time.

My responce to my friend was, a road is a road. You drive according to the ROTR and the conditions.

Henry Ford III · 01-02-2012 07:00PM

I find Dublin generally ok roads and traffic wise. The M50 is pretty grim though. Anything seemingly goes on that road.

CiniO · 01-02-2012 07:02PM

I'm happy to drive anywhere in the world.

Dublin is definitely not a challenge.

Atomic Pineapple · 01-02-2012 07:06PM

Another way to highlight the incompetency of Irish drivers, especially with Sat Navs anyone who has a licence should be capable of driving anywhere in Ireland.

crashplan · 01-02-2012 07:08PM

I'll drive anywhere.

robbie_998 · 01-02-2012 07:12PM

Driving in dublin isint any more difficult than driving in a town or village to myself.

the thing is about dublin city is that parking fee and petrol VS. public transport fare.

so very recently myself i've decieded and done is if im in town for a whole day, i will use a bus or luas.

the one great thing i love doing if im driving in dublin city is that the bus lanes - not all are 24hour or all day.

some are open to all traffic between 12 AND 2 so i use them and skip traffic as during those times it not actually a bus lane.

and further proof of this is going into city centre using bus lane from heuston station right down to o connell street with a garda car behind me and nothing done bout it.

lau1247 · 01-02-2012 07:15PM

agree with Cinio, Dublin is not the worst.. i've driven in much more challenging locations

coylemj · 01-02-2012 07:16PM

People (especially women) from the country find drivers in Dublin very aggressive and the Walkinstown Roundabout is to be avoided at all costs.

Have to say myself that if I'm coming back to Dublin along the M7 on a Sunday evening and heading to the southside, I will usually avoid the M50 between the Red Cow and Tallaght because it's completely manic at weekends with lunatics out for a fun drive weaving in and out of lanes.

flyingsnail · 01-02-2012 07:19PM

I have driven into Dublin plenty of times, The first time was about 3 or 4 months after I passed my test and I didn’t find daunting but I did find it tiring because at the time I didn’t do much other than local driving. Any competent driver should be able to drive anywhere in the country without any problems.

-Corkie- · 01-02-2012 07:24PM

I often get the train up if I am in the mood and slaughter a few pints in The Galway Hooker..

CiniO · 01-02-2012 07:32PM

robbie_998 wrote: »

Driving in dublin isint any more difficult than driving in a town or village to myself.

We have one major junction in the town that I live in currently.
It's just a major road crossing with minor road.
I'd say about 50% of local drivers has absolutely no clue who has the right of way on this junction. When it comes to someone turning right or left there, it's even worse.
Additionally, I reckon it's over 80% of local drivers who don't use indicators at all (never).

TBH I can't imagine those people driving in Dublin.

Blut2 · 01-02-2012 08:42PM

Oh dear, if someone finds driving in Dublin scary never let them near the wheel in Paris/Rome/any second world city. Dublin's fairly lacking in signpostage, especially compared to American cities, but otherwise both the roads and the drivers are far less demanding than in many other places.

johnos1984 · 01-02-2012 08:44PM

-Corkie- wrote: »

I often get the train up if I am in the mood and slaughter a few pints in The Galway Hooker..

I think everyone is talking about driving in Dublin not going for a ride Corkie

-Corkie- · 01-02-2012 08:46PM

johnos1984 wrote: »

I think everyone is talking about driving in Dublin not going for a ride Corkie

:eek::eek:

mountain · 01-02-2012 08:46PM

-Corkie- wrote: »

I often get the train up if I am in the mood and slaughter a few pints in The Galway Hooker..

"slaughter a few pints" haven't heard that for a long time!!!

Ninap · 01-02-2012 08:47PM

I regularly drive in Paris and London, but I can see why some people might have a problem in Dublin. The signage is appalling, and traversing the city very confusing if you're not a local. The only place I might hesitate to drive is Tehran. I must have seen about 20 minor accidents in the space of 3 days. Rush hour lasts all day. Everyone drives 30 year old Hilman Hunters and doesn't mind getting them bashed. A three lane motorway usually has 6 lanes of traffic....

John_Rambo · 01-02-2012 08:49PM

Dublin drivers are usually a bit more relaxed than other Irish cities and town, allowances will be made for wrong lane late indication in traffic, people will generally let you out in traffic, gaps are left even with no yellow box and most people will merge properly. A nod or a wave will go a long way if you are lost and need to change lane.

Of course you will get the odd gobsheen, but that's to be expected everywhere. In my experience there is a bit more leniency and patience in Dublin.

You will get people logging on and harping on about how everyone is "in a rush" and all Dublin drivers are rude and aggressive. But that's simply not the case, it's pub talk.

Edit... Ninap is 100% correct, signage is brutal.

johnos1984 · 01-02-2012 08:50PM

Ninap wrote: »

I regularly drive in Paris and London, but I can see why some people might have a problem in Dublin. The signage is appalling, and traversing the city very confusing if you're not a local. The only place I might hesitate to drive is Tehran. I must have seen about 20 minor accidents in the space of 3 days. Rush hour lasts all day. Everyone drives 30 year old Hilman Hunters and doesn't mind getting them bashed. A three lane motorway usually has 6 lanes of traffic....

They aren't Hunters, they are brand spanking new Paykans

teddansonswig · 01-02-2012 08:50PM

robbie_998 wrote: »

Driving in dublin isint any more difficult than driving in a town or village to myself.

the thing is about dublin city is that parking fee and petrol VS. public transport fare.

robbie you giving all our secrets away shush!!

-Corkie- · 01-02-2012 08:50PM

mountain wrote: »

"slaughter a few pints" haven't heard that for a long time!!!

Neither have I unfortunatley....:(

rain on · 01-02-2012 08:58PM

It would never occur to me not to drive in Dublin, or anywhere in Ireland for that matter. I always figured if the blithering idiots that make up an alarmingly large percentage of the driving population can manage it, so can I.

Mint Sauce · 01-02-2012 09:10PM

John_Rambo wrote: »

Dublin drivers are usually a bit more relaxed than other Irish cities and town, allowances will be made for wrong lane late indication in traffic, people will generally let you out in traffic, gaps are left even with no yellow box and most people will merge properly. A nod or a wave will go a long way if you are lost and need to change lane.

Of course you will get the odd gobsheen, but that's to be expected everywhere. In my experience there is a bit more leniency and patience in Dublin.

You will get people logging on and harping on about how everyone is "in a rush" and all Dublin drivers are rude and aggressive. But that's simply not the case, it's pub talk.

Edit... Ninap is 100% correct, signage is brutal.

+1. Experienced this trying to get around the round about at the Junction of the N4/South Circular. To get arcross 2/3 lanes of traffic to make a single lane exit was alot of fun.

A friendly glance and nod, good use of indicators, and a display of confience is sometimes all that is needed.

Big Nasty · 01-02-2012 09:17PM

It's just fear of the unkown really.

I was in the states last year and was a bit edgy about driving in LA. Was grand although the roads are in sh1te and there's sh1tloads of traffic.

corktina · 01-02-2012 09:28PM

i'd drive anything anywhere...the harder it is, the more I like it.

MugMugs · 01-02-2012 09:35PM

-Corkie- wrote: »

I often get the train up if I am in the mood and slaughter a few pints in The Galway Hooker..

You get the train from Cork to Dublin if you fancy a pint ????

I'd hate to see what you do when you fancy a kebab afterwards!!!

coylemj · 01-02-2012 10:14PM

Ninap wrote: »

The only place I might hesitate to drive is Tehran. I must have seen about 20 minor accidents in the space of 3 days. Rush hour lasts all day. Everyone drives 30 year old Hilman Hunters and doesn't mind getting them bashed. A three lane motorway usually has 6 lanes of traffic....

Sounds similar to Cairo except there most of the cars are secondhand rejects from Germany, most of them look and smell like they failed the German equivalent of the NCT on emissions. Since the Egyptians drive on the left (relic of Empire) and the cars are all continental LHD models, it makes for 'interesting' driving habits because in most cars the driver can't see the oncoming traffic when he's overtaking!

byhookorbycrook · 01-02-2012 10:17PM

Signposting is poor, which doesn't really help.

cloneslad · 01-02-2012 10:26PM

The day I passed my test I had to drive up to Dublin to go to the Korean Embassy, had to go up again the following day too.

I've also driven in London, all over Korea and in Vietnam. To be honest I don't see the problem with driving in Dublin

If you don't know where you are going, just look ahead and check you mirrors and be sure you don't crash into any one, you'll eventually find your way.

-Corkie- · 01-02-2012 10:33PM

MugMugs wrote: »

You get the train from Cork to Dublin if you fancy a pint ????

I'd hate to see what you do when you fancy a kebab afterwards!!!

Dart to Howth....:cool:

I drive around the city a good bit but if I was going for a nite out I would train it, better of if something happens the next morning..

challengemaster · 01-02-2012 10:44PM

Driving around dublin is no different to anywhere else, the only issue is figuring out where the fcuk you're going, and which roads you need to take. Signage is nothing short of dreadful tbh.

Saab Ed · 01-02-2012 10:53PM

After a recent drive around Cork, I'd say Dublin is a walk in the park by comparrison. The poor standard of driving coupled with a chip on the shoulder, aggresive standard of driving I saw down there makes it a far dodgier place to drive IMO. Although there were far less cars than in Dublin, the entire place was chaos and everybody was in a hurry to get nowhere.

Atleast in Dublin, after years of poor organisation, the place is now fairly well laid out. It all flows well enough. The quantity of traffic might be far greater than in other parts of the country but its because of this very reason that the standard is better. That said, there's nutters everywhere

Would you drive to/in Dublin?*

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