The road safety thread.

[Baron von Biffo]

This is just another bogus crime invented by the public sector and their cronies to extract money from young people.

Most of these people are not "learner drivers". They are people who the state refuses to grant a licence so that they can generate profits for the driving instructor cartel.

Examiners rountinely deny driving licences to young people on spurious grounds. I was a victim of this scam myself.

The reality is that the state has no right to prohibit people operating motor vehicles. Most of the roads do not belong to the state as they have been in existence long before the state was founded. These roads are common land. I would recommend to these young people who are being denied driving licences and subsequently persecuted for not having one, to issue their own licences. Just print one up on your computer and show it to the fascists when they pull you over.

You're a tonic Pat.

[C. Flower]

Seven people died on the roads so far this weekend. In the last couple of weeks there have been a number of deaths at different road-based events.

It is very tragic for everyone who has lost a friend or family member.

It is a mystery to me why illegal driving of various "recreational" kinds is allowed on public roads.

[barrym]

Exactly. Only in Ireland are laws like this routinely ignored.

Surely if the law states that learner drivers must be accompanied, and they are not, then they are not insured to drive.

That's what you'd think, but, as I understand it, if you have a learner on your insurance then there is no requirement (by the insurance co) for them to be accompanied, in direct contravention of the law. The companies pay out in cases where the driver was an L but unaccompanied.... I stand to be corrected but it is my information.

The moan by the failed test person is a distraction.

[Baron von Biffo]

That's what you'd think, but, as I understand it, if you have a learner on your insurance then there is no requirement (by the insurance co) for them to be accompanied, in direct contravention of the law. The companies pay out in cases where the driver was an L but unaccompanied.... I stand to be corrected but it is my information.

The moan by the failed test person is a distraction.

The small print of your insurance policy will contain a requirement that you drive in accordance with the conditions of your licence. It is a condition of Learner's Permits that the holder be accompanied by a suitably qualified driver.

If an unaccompanied driver causes an accident the insurer will usually pay third party costs but not comprehensive/personal injury costs of the driver.

[Count Bobulescu]

New driver side rear view mirrors that eliminate the blind spot are on the way.

http://www.theatlantic.com/technolog...d-spot/258449/

[Baron von Biffo]

The carnage on the roads continues.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland...ts-198094.html

One of the victims was on a motorway hard shoulder when he was hit by a truck. Now it may be that his car had broken down but it must be said that we have an extremely casual attitude to stopping on motorways.

According to the schematic in the OSI road atlas, the longest unbroken stretch of motorway in the country is the 26.3km between J18 and J21 (Westbound) on the M7. At motorway speed that takes just 13 minutes to complete. There's simply no excuse for stopping on the hard shoulder other than breakdown or emergency.

[morticia]

Given the lack of service stations, I am not surprised that many of the stopped appear to be having a whizz....the blokes aren't very discreet about it, let's put it that way.

[C. Flower]

National bike something day today. Watch out for those bikes!

[Baron von Biffo]

National bike something day today. Watch out for those bikes!

Keeping off the footpath is a good way to stay safe from cyclists.

[Baron von Biffo]

Dolores Keane was caught drink-driving while banned for drink-driving and she gets away with a €300 fine and a 4 year ban to be served concurrently with her existing 3 year ban.

This is her third drink-drive ban.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...318891543.html

[Baron von Biffo]

Slap on the wrist for speeding down a cycle lane on a motorbike causing serious injury to a pedestrian.

http://www.independent.ie/national-n...m-3155611.html

It was hardly worth the garda effort to bring it to court.

[Baron von Biffo]

Road deaths are up nearly 10% on this time last year.

http://www.garda.ie/Controller.aspx?Page=138

Hardly surprising with the wind-down of the traffic corps and enforcement for all practical purposes restricted speeding offences.

[Baron von Biffo]

There's something terribly wrong with a system that allows someone to drive for forty years despite failing the test 11 times.

http://www.independent.ie/national-n...t-3159258.html

[Baron von Biffo]

The guards are running a speeding blitz today. On the Tullamore bypass earlier I spotted one of the speed camera vans driving towards me and the driver was using his mobile, seemingly to text.

So much for safety.

[Baron von Biffo]

Mayo County Council is giving unwarranted credibility to the claims of aggressive drivers that it's not their fault if they overtake dangerously but that the blame lies with the driver they're overtaking.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland...rs-201696.html