ShiteDrivers.com

Following the launch of ShiteDrivers.com not so long ago, some great publicity has been forthcoming over the last few days.

Yesterday, an article appeared in the Sunday Tribune, coutesy of Miss Una Mullally, about the website with comments from the Road Safety Authority's Noel Brett.

Also this morning Niall was on the Ray D'Arcy show on Today FM, with Marty Whelan on 2FM and also on Tipp FM and NewsTalk.

While there are some who will rubbish this site (one person on Ray's show thought that it was a forum for people to record their bad driving and become famous through the site for it - nope, that is what YouTube is for) I think its a great idea.

I always feel that we, the Irish, are shocking at issues like this. When something happens we never feel we can make a difference and wait for someone else. When someone does decide to do something all we do is give out about them and say that they are never happy.

So I say, feck ye bugrudgers and embrace this site. It it makes even 2 people a week think more about their driving habits then its better than none.

Know any shite drivers?

Following on from Niall's blog posts here and here and my own here, Niall has set up a lovely new site called ShiteDrivers.com.

More information about it.

Please feel free to log comments on Niall's blog post or indeed on this one with ideas or suggestions. Really, the state of some of the driving on Irish roads these days leaves a lot to be desired and something needs to be done to address this.

For myself, here are a few suggestions that I think the NRA (National Roads Authority) need to address ASAP

1) Awareness Campaigns.
We need awareness campaigns urgently on how to deal with roads and situations. We have a huge amount of people who have never encountered or had to deal with motorways, dual carriageways or slow/fast lanes and suddenly these are introduced with no training or details. We need TV ads, newspaper ads and flyers detailing these so that at least people might get the idea. To me a 50 year old is as dangerous on a motorway if they have never been on one before as much as a learner of 2 years in the same situation.

2) Driver Training.
The driver training program needs urgent revamp. It needs to include more items like how to deal with cyclists and motorbikes. It needs to include 'zipping' and general road courtesy. None of these things are on the test. Fast roads, decent size roundabouts, traffic...loads of things need to be done during the test and we need to ensure that the people we are letting drive on the roads can indeed drive. There is no point in testing someone in a 50km zone and in housing estates and then letting them off on motorways. They need to be tested on motorways or national roads on which they will regularly drive.

3) More Cameras
I think we need more cameras but not just for speed. People regularly do not use roundabouts correctly and often go into the wrong lane. If we had some cameras on roundabouts and people were fined for not using indicators or using the wrong lane then it might stop people. We need cameras also on motorways and dual carriageways to check people's driving. Speed is indeed an issue but stupidity is as big an issue in my mind. We should also have cameras on roads that have had a high number of fatalities so we could see what is happening. Maybe, with the families consent, they could be shown to learner drivers, and others, to see what happens when you go that bit to fast on a bad road or what happens driving - even at/under the speed limit - on wet/slippy roads.

4) Pedestrian Awareness
People nowadays have no fear of cars. People regularly walk on the incorrect side of the road or cross the road, taking their time, and cause cars to stop. Pedestrians need to be more aware of themselves and treat the road with more respect. I myself had a good grounding in respect for the road from both my parents and teachers and I wonder what is happening now?

5) Cycle lanes and Paths
We need more...much, much more. The proposal for the €30bm is great but I would love to read the whole thing. Its fantastic that cycle paths are to be introduced for tourists but have the ordinary Irish folk been thought off? No. I tried to cycle from Cobh to Little Island but had to stop. The road is constantly being dug up and is crap and car/lorry drivers give you no space or respect. I would class myself as an experienced cyclist so I don't see how kids/families can cycle on that road. We need the whole thing to be assessed and cycle paths but in where we the Irish need them.

We also need more pedestrian paths. It really should be part of the infrastructure plan when housing estates are being created to have proper access in and around and not have to stop at the entrance. More and more housing estates are being built and its great walking around them but when you leave them you are often on a main road or a narrow road (like near our house) with lots of traffic.

6) Statistics
More statistics need to be shown in the media. We need to know the breakdown of what caused the accident. To often speed is assumed when it may have been something else. It could have been a bad road, wet conditions, very inexperienced driver anything. Drink is a concern and so is speed but so is poor driving, ignorant pedestrians and stupidity. Lets see the causes and do something about them rather than assuming everything is drink/speed related.



I'm sure there are other items but even if these could be addressed soon the roads would be a better - and safer - place.

People who are fuckers No.8 - Driver of 06 C 5474

You are some stupid bitch. Do you not know the rules of the road? For fucks sake.

Here, especially for you, are the rules of how to navigate roundabouts.

As there is only one exit lane from the roundabout entering Eastgate you cannot and should not be in the right hand lane you fuckin bitch. READ THE RULES. And then just cutting right in front of me, with no use of indicators and then having the nerve to try and blame me!!

For fuck sakes.

I have a good mind to print out the roundabout rules and go to your place of work and give them to you in Eastgate Business Park on the same road as O'Briens.

Driving hints.

From driving into work and from Niall's blog post, here are some top tips for those dipshits on the road.

1) On a dual carriageway (in Ireland), the right-hand lane is called an "overtaking" lane. You should only enter this lane for a) turning right at the next junction (which should be close and not 3 or 4 fuckin miles away, b) you are overtaking. If you must overtake, indicate, move out, overtake and move back in. Do not move out and sit beside the car you are overtaking. Do not just sit in this lane because you are too fuckin thick to move into the left-hand lane.

2) Indicate BEFORE turning - indicators are not to help you turn but rather to advise other drivers of your intention, Indicate early enough to warn the poor fucks behind you.

3) If you have to slow down, use your brake. Don't just lift your foot of the accelerator. The brake lights at the rear of the car are to warn the drivers behind of what you are doing. Also, there is not need to brake on every corner or when a car is passing you on the opposite side of the road.

4) Using your mobile phone in Ireland while driving is illegal. Why the fuck do so many thick fuckers still do it? It causes problems. I saw a guy suddenly brake quite hard, then pick up and answer his mobile. No hands free for him. Cunt.

5) Use your mirrors. They are there to be used and not for checking makeup or for aesthetic purposes. Be aware of who and what is behind and around you.

6) Bicycle's and pedestrians have as much right on the roads as you. Give them space.

7) If you want to drive at 30kmph then do it in a 30kph zone. Not in a 60kmph zone. If you want to drive a fair bit under the speed limit then have the common courtesy to move in and let the vehicles who want to drive close to the speed limit pass. You do not have sole rights on any road.

Roll on the expected abuse...

Silly Woman...

Tut, tut, tut..

People who are fuckers No.4 - Driver of 96 C 6542

Yes, you - you gobshite.

You driving the red Seat Cordoba this morning.

You who drove so fast to ensure to overtake me before I moved out to overtake - and then slowed down.

You who then sat in the right-hand lane of the dual carriageway at 90km. Dont you know how to drive and why you shouldn't sit there?

You fucker.....fuck, fuck, fuck, fucker......

People who are fuckers No.1 - Outside Lane Drivers

No.1 in my people who are fuckers list are those fuckers who drive on the right-hand lane (of course this is country dependant) of a dual-carraigeway and think they are going nothing wrong going at around or under the speed limit.

THIS IS AN OVERTAKING LANE YOU DUMB FUCKS.

OVERTAKE AND THEN MOVE BACK INTO THE OTHER LANE

DONT JUST SIT THERE CRUISING..

BASTARDS.....

And thus ends lesson 1.