The picture below was taken from a pedestrian bridge on this stretch and shows a common scene.

And before you ask, no, there was no slow moving or merging traffic or other obstruction in the inner lane ahead of the oncoming traffic – I swung around and took the next shot to show this.

The rules of the road are very clear about keeping left. What really amazes me is the amount of cars and trucks coming out from Naas town, where this inner lane begins, that immediately move out right to the centre or outer lanes. And those that arrive in the centre and outer lanes of the three lane N7 from the two lane M7, yet never dream of moving into the left.

I have also seen drivers travel the whole way from Newlands Cross to Naas in the centre lane while the left one is empty and only move into the inner one approaching Naas – their destination.

I suspect that in some cases road users misinterpret the gantry signage. e.g. They think a white sign with black type and an arrow pointing diagonally down and left means this lane is for Town X only instead of you are approaching a slip-lane/exit for Town X.

More worryingly I have been told of a variety of reasons why not to use the inner lane by friends and neighbours:

· It is for trucks only.
· It is for cars doing 20 km/h less than the speed limit.
· It is only for when you are leaving or joining the road.
· It is for the emergency services.

I say worryingly, as it another example of people who don’t know the rules of the road, or are unsure of the rules in a particular instance, making up their own based on what they feel is right and sensible rather than finding what is actually correct.

Picture this. A yellow van pulling a generator stopped at one of the roundabouts at an exit on the N7. I’m next in line. In my mirror I see an 07 reg jeep coming at high speed from behind. Jesus, will it stop? Will it be able? It did.

The traffic on the roundabout clears and the van pulls on. Slowly. Those generators are heavy. I follow. A glance in the mirror. Where’s the jeep? Did it go left down the cul-de-sac? No. No sign.

There he is! Heading anti-clockwise around the roundabout. He’s over the far side of the bridge before the van or I are off the roundabout. Next roundabout – anti-clockwise again.

I follow the jeep down into the village. It stops at the bookies and two oldish men get out. You know the types – long grey comb-overs and greasy-elbowed jackets. Do you realise what you did back there? What? You went the wrong way around two roundabouts. Oh, shur it’s miles the other way. There wasn’t an’thin’ comin’. Where’s the harm?

I’m dumbfounded. He sees nothing wrong in what he did.

I pop into the cop shop and give the sarge the reg number and description. Right so. Thanks for that. Are you not going to talk to him? He’s still down at the bookies? Ah, shur no point. I didn’t see him meslef.

I give up.