Hi
I was driving from Buncrana, Donegal to Derry 3 Sundays ago and noticed a young woman very low in her seat tailgating me. She overtook me and 4 other cars on a blind bend. I flashed my lights and hit the horn more out of fear for her safety than anger. She then did the same with the next 2 cars ahead on a blind bend. I watched for her car at all the shops on the way up as I was going to chat to her and tell her she and other drivers would probably die soon as a result of her maniacal driving. She had a Donegal registration and I assume she was on a provisional licence and never had any lessons. I feel she just did not understand how dangerous her driving was or else she was suicidal.
Her first accident would be her last. I encounter drivers like this everey time I go to Donegal. I think it is mad that you can drive unaccompaniedwithout even doing a test. Is there any other country in Europe where this is allowed. Please let me know.
8 Comments
In Germany you have to pass a theory test before you’re even allowed near a car. Then you are only allowed to drive in the context of lessons, only in a dual controlled car belonging to the driving school and only with your instructor.
You will then have to do a minimum ammount of driving lessons.
The lessons include the mechanics of the car, first aid, driving at night and driving on motorways.
After you pass your final test you will get your full, but for now provisional licence, because your on probation for a few years.
If you collect any penalty points you might keep your license, but will have to go back to driving school for refresher courses, but in some cases you will have to do your tests all over again.
You can then do advanced driving courses that include controlling you car in a spin, driving in the wet, etc…
Call me crazy, but that strikes me as a better system.
When you say ‘low in the seat’ are you commenting on the boy racer position? Where they recline the seat as rear as possible so their shoulders are almost in the rear passenger seats!
Theres no forward planning in Irish driving, just moment to moment and deal with problems as they arise.
As for driving without a qualified driver? Were unique.
martyjoe,
You should stay away from Donegal if these bad drivers only appear when you visit !
Seriously though apart from your whinge here what action did you take? Did you report it to the Gardai or do like the rest of Ireland and report it to Joe Duffy on Whine Line ?
I sympathise completely. I moved from Cork to Donegal four years ago and I have seen the craziest drivers in that time. It seems that there’s no law and order on the Donegal Roads. There’s no respect for other drivers who drive safely or at the speed limit.
It’s no wonder there are so many fatalities on Donegal’s roads.
I know the road your on about. That buncrana road is littered in gardi and its not a road you’d race on. Inishowen drivers are the worst drivers in the country by far. I live in inishowen and i drive out of it every day just to feel safer.
I drive the road you are on about everyday, the gardi are on it yes, but not at night when the a-holes are out, but first thing in the morning when the communters are an easy catch!!!!
From early evening till the early hours all you can here around Buncrana is the noise from the cars of the drivers mention above, and they are not adhering to the rules of the roads.
They will never learn until it is too late….
Great Site…well done.
As for bad drivers in Donegal, well most of them come from Inishowen..reason why?..simple: their all Bog men (Neds) just one step up from the Tractor and now their on the road and a pure menace to us all!!
Don’t show them the Rules Of The Road, give them a Ladybird book with big letters and pictures, and they just might improve…slightly!
But on a more serious note, my friend was over from Boston recently and he is a State Trooper on the I95, and compared driving over here to the same standard as South America!!!
inishowen drivers again!!!