Clergy to bless the roads in effort to cut road deaths

Kermit.de.frog · 23-03-2015 02:05PM #1

THIS is not April 1st is it?? Cause I was under the impression it was March 23rd (2015).

People of a certain vintage might see this as a throwback to the 1950's or something.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/republic-of-ireland/clergy-will-bless-irelands-roads-in-bid-to-end-carnage-31086199.html

Ever watch Father Ted and think actually it might not be that far from the truth?:pac:

Mountjoy Mugger · 23-03-2015 02:06PM

If it heightens awareness of the issue, then there's nothing wrong with it. No need to be facetious.

"The Blessing of the Roads Ceremony takes places in parts of Australia each year to raise local awareness of road safety, and we are bringing it to Mayo this year," said Noel Gibbons, road safety officer with Mayo County Council.

Witcher · 23-03-2015 02:07PM

They'd be better off taking the roads in altogether.

JaseBelleVie · 23-03-2015 02:07PM

No need to wear seatbelts on those roads then, is there? Sure, God will protect me!

kylith · 23-03-2015 02:08PM

Nah, it happens occasionally. I think they did it in Kerry last year.

I'll be taking a leaf out of their book later and sacrificing a goat in an effort to cut the rate of heart disease.

vienne86 · 23-03-2015 02:11PM

Sounds stupid, but what harm? And it might even make people think.

BoJack Horseman · 23-03-2015 02:12PM

The Road Safety Authority are now redundant.

Job done!

Cee-Jay-Cee · 23-03-2015 02:12PM

vienne86 wrote: »

Sounds stupid, but what harm? And it might even make people think.

It might also might make them think that because they're blessed they're safe to drive as they please...

Zombienosh · 23-03-2015 02:13PM

Craggy Island

jelutong · 23-03-2015 02:14PM

God has replaced Gay!

SEPT 23 1989 · 23-03-2015 02:16PM

They need to perform an exorcism on the Walkinstown roundabout

CiDeRmAn · 23-03-2015 02:17PM

Perhaps that's what that mad old bugger of a priest was doing on that Formula 1 track a couple of years ago?

Seriously though I'm all for this blessing thing.
Let's start with a good uncongested stretch of the M50, let them make their holy way to the dotted white line beside the fast lane, see how their faith keeps them safe from a speeding lorry as they lay down a few prayers.
What a load of sh1te.

Macavity. · 23-03-2015 02:19PM

Idiots.

dr.fuzzenstein · 23-03-2015 02:23PM

I hate the use of the word carnage. It's pointless "Think Of The Children" hysteria.
Ireland has 3.5 deaths per 100k population. India has 19.5. THAT is carnage.
If the authorities are constantly bleating "MASSIVE CARNAGE ON IRISH ROADS, DEATH, BLOODBATH, SHOCKER STATISTICS, BABIES WILL DIE!!!!", after a few years I just go "yeah, yeah, very nice, what's on the other channel?"
You get fatigue from all this carnage porn and you simply start ignoring it.
How about training people how to drive? Wouldn't that be a novel idea?
Because any kind of road safety message goes in one ear and out the other with me. I was getting a bit peed off with it years ago, but then "He Drives, She Dies!" and I thought "Well, that's enough of that horsesh*t for me"

whiskeyman · 23-03-2015 02:24PM

I'm incensed by this...

alchemist33 · 23-03-2015 02:25PM

Won't the holy water just make the roads slippier???

Ben D Bus · 23-03-2015 02:27PM

whiskeyman wrote: »

I'm incensed by this...

Don't worry, it hasn't a prayer of succeeding.

4zn76tysfajdxp · 23-03-2015 02:32PM

Fairly harmless gesture really, even if it is a waste of time. The internet atheists in here really don't need to go into attack mode every time anything to do with religion is brought up.

dr.fuzzenstein · 23-03-2015 02:34PM

Renata Wooden Fruit wrote: »

Fairly harmless gesture really, even if it is a waste of time. The internet atheists in here really don't need to go into attack mode every time anything to do with religion is brought up.

Not really the whole God thing, it's more the Father Ted aspect of it that gets people going.

BBDBB · 23-03-2015 02:38PM

Does a Clergyman in the road affect the stopping distance of a car travelling at 60kph?

just in case its on the test ;-)

Kermit.de.frog · 23-03-2015 02:39PM

BBDBB wrote: »

Does a Clergyman in the road affect the stopping distance of a car travelling at 60kph?

just in case its on the test ;-)

That would be an ecumenical matter.

23-03-2015 02:39PM

Its nuts but its not going to do any harm, and if your the type to believe in positive energies and such like you will think it will do some good.

paulbok · 23-03-2015 02:44PM

JaseBelleVie wrote: »

No need to wear seatbelts on those roads then, is there? Sure, God will protect me!

To quote the old Sinbad movies,

"Trust in Allah, but always tie up your camel."

kylith · 23-03-2015 02:48PM

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Not really the whole God thing, it's more the Father Ted aspect of it that gets people going.

Totally.

It's that they don't do anything to actually try lessen the road deaths like preach from the pulpit that people shouldn't speed, or get involved in a road safety campaign. It's like ignoring a fire extinguisher and just saying 'Jaysus, I hope the curtains don't catch fire'.

everlast75 · 23-03-2015 02:50PM

First God came for the dangerous drivers.

Now he comes for the drink drivers..

http://www.breakingnews.ie/discover/video-pint-explodes-in-louth-pub-resident-ghost-blamed-668664.html

Shenshen · 23-03-2015 02:50PM

Right up there with Paschal Donoghoe's new road sign for boreens - a completely new sign for those lanes with grass down the middle but with a speed limit of 80kph, which will tell drivers that they should stay under the 80kph.

About as useful as a kleenex for an elephant.

RomanKnows · 23-03-2015 02:50PM

Renata Wooden Fruit wrote: »

Fairly harmless gesture really, even if it is a waste of time. The internet atheists in here really don't need to go into attack mode every time anything to do with religion is brought up.

Absolutely. It's harmless as you say. May even give some comfort to those who have lost friends or family due to traffic accidents.
Won't stop some supposedly enlightened neckbeards from snorting at it with all the hubris and pride of a True Dawkinian. They are rarely as enlightened about the fact the same neckbeard is an enormous barrier to having sex with another adult human.

4zn76tysfajdxp · 23-03-2015 02:54PM

kylith wrote: »

Totally.

It's that they don't do anything to actually try lessen the road deaths like preach from the pulpit that people shouldn't speed, or get involved in a road safety campaign. It's like ignoring a fire extinguisher and just saying 'Jaysus, I hope the curtains don't catch fire'.

No it's not. This is a road safety campaign.

sbsquarepants · 23-03-2015 02:56PM

RomanKnows wrote: »

Absolutely. It's harmless as you say. May even give some comfort to those who have lost friends or family due to traffic accidents.
Won't stop some supposedly enlightened neckbeards from snorting at it with all the hubris and pride of a True Dawkinian. They are rarely as enlightened about the fact the same neckbeard is an enormous barrier to having sex with another adult human.

Eh, what now?

shruikan2553 · 23-03-2015 02:57PM

RomanKnows wrote: »

Absolutely. It's harmless as you say. May even give some comfort to those who have lost friends or family due to traffic accidents.
Won't stop some supposedly enlightened neckbeards from snorting at it with all the hubris and pride of a True Dawkinian. They are rarely as enlightened about the fact the same neckbeard is an enormous barrier to having sex with another adult human.

At least we have your enlightenment. Get in line ladies, he doesn't have a neckbeard.

Going Strong · 23-03-2015 02:58PM

What about us pedestrians? Why aren't pavements being blessed to prevent us from tripping up on cracks or stepping in dog poo? Blatant discrimination!

Clergy to bless the roads in effort to cut road deaths

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