Niall Donegan makes a very good point about Irish drivers being crap at using their indicators – a problem which I encounter all too often, particularly, as one commenter on his post says, at roundabouts.
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22 Comments
Some Irish drives think indicators are to be used at their leisure.Indicators are compulsary.You have to use them,otherwise the guy behind you does not have a clue what you are doing.They think that people can read their minds when on a roundabout or coming to a junction.Its not that hard to just flick the switch to signal to others where you’re going.I wouldnt be surprised if some people on the roads didnt know how to work thier indicators at all.Its a joke!!!
It seems to me that a large percentage of drivers have 2 roundabout-indicator misconceptions:-
a) That when entering the roundabout, if you’re taking any exit apart from the first one, you indicate right.
b) When you’re on the roundabout, you indicate left even if the exit you want isn’t the next one.
This second one seems to have crept in over the past few years and it makes trying to enter a roundabout a real ‘will-he, won’t he?’ guessing game.
Taxi drivers are the worst offenders for not using their indicators.
i seriously have been driven ( literally ) demented with people not using there indicatiors lately. esp off slip roads and braking before indicating
I just had yet another African immigrant swerve off the road without indicating. They must get their driving licences in Tesco. Seriously though, why are they allowed to drive here with absolutely no driving skills or regard for safety.
Its not just young people or non irish who don’t use there indicaters. I was coming out of cavan General Sunday night, at loreto cross the Garda car was in frount of me the turned right but didnt indicate.
for Jim Doyle,
I’m not sticking up for bad drivers, but in reference to your comment on the african drivers “They” need to do the same tests and examinations as any other Irish driver while over here.
I am Canadian, and I’ve had a Canadian license for 15 years, and had to resit the provisional exam, wait 12 months to sit my practical, then get your irish license. I think we need to work on everyones driving skills, and not try to point out immigrants. There are enough bad irish drivers to keep you busy…
Travis
In the last month a lot of drivers have started indicating left when taking the second exit on a mini roundabout near me.. but they are indicating before they enter the roundabout so its almost caused a few accidents already.. i think its got to do with the rules of the road books that were delivered to everyone recently…. odd eh!
By far the most dangerous manouver to carry out on a mini roundabout is to try and go back the way you came, everyone assumes you’re coming off at the last exit rather than the one you entered from so they come onto the roundabout at full tilt. I usually slow right down when i’m doing it but some drivers don’t and it causes some wet drivers seats!
I think the future of Irish driving is in safe hands with the likes of observant drivers sucha as Jim Doyle who, not only was able to avoid a collision but was accurately able to detect the driver’s ethnic race and continent of origin not to mention the fact that he was an immigrant to boot. While I would be the first to point out where bad driving has occured I wonder why people feel the need to attribute a geographical origin to the offender. I wonder when there will be a http://www.shiteracists.com
Reply about roundabouts i do believe that most people do not know how to use a roundabout or what indicators the need to be using.
A roundabout i use quite a frequently at Glenageary suffers terribly from lack of flasher syndrome. Many just dont care, others cant because they are distracted from their text messages.
The standards of driving on the roundabouts in Galway is a joke to say the least. Every single DAY, I come across some seriously bad driving. It makes me wonder how some people have ever passed a test although some have probably never even sat one. As for indicators, I think most of the drivers here think that they are just for decoration!
I’ve had so many near crashes on roundabouts due to bad indicating, wrong lanes etc. This isn’t rocket science… Do not go in the lh lane if turning right. Do not go in the rh lane if turning left. Do not indicate left if turning right and do not indicate right if turning left. if going straight ahead do not indicate until just after the last exit before your turnoff. Why is it so difficult. I’ve seen all ages of drivers, taxi drivers and people of both sexes completely cock this up and almost cause accidents. Probably some do. I was following someone a few months ago across 3 roundabouts at each one they indicated left was in the left hand lane and turned right every time… Is this not part of the driving test in Ireland? I now stay behind drivers no matter what, because they could literally go anywhere on the roundabout. it would be a miracle if they actually were in the correct lane and indicating correctly.
Actually I have a major issue with Roundabouts that needs addressing. Primarily its the rules of the road vs the “12′oclock Rule”.
I have read the rules of the road [including the new version] only to be frustrated by further mixed signals.
Let me explain:
The pictorials and rules of the road are based on the assumption that all roundabouts are based on a simply cross formation [i.e. exit to left, exit straight ahead, exit to the right]. This is all dandy until you come across a roundabout where there is multiple exits, all after 12′oclock and the third is the main road continuation. [They exist - trust me] The confusion from all drivers is aboe and beyond reason.
Now I have no time for listening to other peoples ‘opinions’ on the matter as I want to know what the facts are regarding this “12′oclock rule” vs the Actual rules of the road. Therefore I contacted the [office of] Minister of Transport who directed me to the [office of] Minster of the environment who finally directed me to the Road Safety Authority. The question was posed and the reponse was as follows:
Q) Which is more correct the 12′oclock rule or the rules as stated in the rules of the road book when dealing with a roundabout where the exists are past 12′oclock.
Ans A) Oh the rules of the road to be sure.
Q) Therefore the 12′oclock rule is nonsense and shouldn’t be followed?
Ans B) Oh.. em… The 12′oclock rule is correct..yes!
Q) But thats a contradiction! Is it not?
Ans C) I would have to redirect to my manager who will contact you by email.
Email arrives: You will get penalty points if you turn right when entering a Roundabout.
GAAAAAhhhhhh!!!
So there you have it. The government don’t know how to use them, The rules of the road have contradictory statements in it, and the local councils refuse to correctly mark out the lanes to people on which they should use.
Having experience of driving on 4 continents over 15 years without incident I doubt that I could be considered a bad driver. My advice therfore is simple:
1) DO NOT OVERTAKE ON ROUNDABOUTS [Primary cause of accidents on roundabouts]
2) Follow the rules of the road and not the “12′oclock rule”. Why? In a court of law the written word is holy! The “12′oclock” rule is not mentioned by name in any official document.
3) Take it easy out there folks. We all like to believe we can give oodles of abuse to the person in the car in front or behind, but remember the next red light may be sooner then you think….
Niall has a point but remember we Irish have a natural ability to put the brake lights and indicator on at the exact time and we do this without any training what-so-ever ……. X-Factor talent here!!!
It’s not just the Irish, the English are just as bad. Don’t bother indicating (leaving the rest of us to guess) and the driving itself is just as shite.
the only people you see indicating at round abouts is learner drivers!
Learner drivers indicating at roundabouts? What? don’t make me laugh. This country’s roundabouts are littered with remnants of torn L-Plates and wrecked dual-control toyota yaris’, abandoned by their once optimistic pilots, now reduced to tears at the prospect of all dat roundness and exiting… learners? hah! A plague on your house JJ! No seriously, roundabouts – it’s the law of fucking jungle I tell thee. Indicators? they’re only for fuckin decoration. Bones (I used to have a teacher called Bones – it’s not you, is it? I’m sorry for all the unpleasantness…), yes it is very complicated but there is hope, there is a way to fight the curse of the round devil… listen up. One. Always look your nemises squarely in the eye (i.e. the person(s) in control of the roundabout). Two. If you going straight through the round devil, DO NOT indicate as you approach (it’s true, just ask Bones) but stay to the LEFT. Three. As you go past your first exit, INDICATE left and piss off there. Four. If you’re goin in but want to get out of the third exit (thats the one far far away), stick to the right as you approach and INDICATE RIGHT ALL THE TIME. When you see your exit, check your mirror, indicate left and be gone. Five. If you’re only going left in the first place (i.e. first exit), INDICATE LEFT ALL THE TIME and stay left as you approach, take you exit and piss off. Simple (yea, right – even if you bothered to read all this shite). But I tell you, its the trooth. I really think though if you’re taking your time, looking around, looking at people and in control of your car, fuck the indicators! who cares! just don’t crash. But do indicate if you can, they are a signal of intent.
It all goes back to the English occupation where secrecy was paramount in order to confuse the enemy.
For the same reason 95% of all houses don’t have their number displayed, streets don’t have signs that would give their name away and if you ever drive to a rural village, the signposts pointing you there will be completely absent when you come to the next 3 way junction.
I drove through the whole europe few times and I’m not Irish so I can tell everyone that Ireland becomes more and more mixed country. I’m on Irish roads for 5years now and can’t get used to the drivers who still drive like they where riding a horse yesterday. no offense lads, but no one in europe is indicating the same like in junction. you only indicate on the exit. it have to be easy for everyone. so all the drivers not only Irish could understand. who’s fault that Irish roundabouts are so small that you can only tell by the sign.
another thing is 2 lanes with straight arrows before the junction and only one lane after the junction.
and more: motorway… 2 lanes both ways… does anyone knows which is the overtaking lane? I thought it’s the one on the right… no it’s the one on the left… cause everyone is driving on the right… and try to flash (trying to wake up the driver in front) you’ll get a sign to **** yourself. well attitude on the road is more important.
Would be easier for everyone on the long road if they would drive on lane no1 if it’s clear there.
I have license for 10years now and my advice is to get your full as soon as you can. the longer you drive on provisional the more bad habits you have and harder to get rid of them.
Many people seem to think that using emergency indicators allows them to double park
Listen guys, the main reason why irish driver are shite is because they’re all learners (almost 20% anyway). They never have to turn up for a test and they all jump straight into a car unaccompanied. Why did I ever bother passing my test when I’m forced to share the road with these people? It would be funny but for the fact that so many people are killed by “young” drivers each year. I wonder how many are learners?