Niall,
Sad to see yet anothet excellent site closed down when it was beginning to make it name known to many people. Recently and because of exams and other committments I was unable to contribuite my six pence worth to the site, a thing I now regret and feel partly responsible for its demise. I have enjoyed reading the many comments and reports by contributors like John smith and many others who brought a sense of commuity to the site. There must be a way in which we, as a community of people who are deply interested in road safety, can help you maintain the site into the future. What do we need to do in order to pursuade you to continue hosting the site. Can we organise ourselves as a committee under your chairmanship and possibly delegate the responsibility for the running of the site to each committee member on a six months basis?
We need a list of writers (listed on site) who will guarantee the site a story on a weekly, or monthly basis.
We need to have a greater presence in the print, radio and television media. We can delegate an individual member to look after the promotion of the site.
Seek the assistance of interested members in the legal and accountancy professions who will look after the legal and financial affairs of the site on a voluntary basis.
Use your vast experience in the radio media world to seek assistance from other interested parties, on behalf of all those who feel part of this road safety campaign.
Place an advertsement on the site seeking this assistance.
Set up a subscription fund in order to finace media support and car window stickers promoting the site. (Use Paypal)
We may need to slightly change the name of the site in order to make its name more acceptable to people who otherwise may not publically identify themselves as supporters or visitors to the site principally because they have to say the name of the site to others. Dont forget we still live in a conservative, Catholic Ireland where certain things are best whispered rather than spoken aloud.
One such name could be
BADDRIVERS.com or SHAMDRIVERS.COM
Before you decide to throw in the towel, change the name now and lets start to work on the other problems that are forcing you to close down the site. Come back, throw us your suggestions or proposals on how we can move the site from here into the future. Let’s discuss this situation before it is too late.
Dont give up, the good parts are just beginning to emerge. As a community let us all get together and see how we can move the site along from this point.
Not only has the site highlighted the situation of bad driving on our roads, it has also enabled people to comment on the decisions made by people who are supposed to be professionals and who allegidely work in our interests.
The RSA made a mash of the Provisional drivinging licence debacle and is now pursuing the speed camera idea (authorities in the UK are now reassessing the effectivness and continued use of cameras) as if speed cameras were the answer to all our problems. In the United Kingdom, authorities are now looking at their past decisions to use camera as an effective method of reducing speed and other related road issues. Heavy goods vehicles, truck and bus drivers are now obliged to take a test and receive a certificate of competency from the RSA before they can drive such vehicles on the road. But these sections of road users are currently obliged to take certain tests in order to drive such vehicles on the road. What the RSA has consistently failed to address is the problems associated with the taxi industry and its members blatent refusal to adher to the rules of the road. Both the Gradai and the RSA have consistently turned a blind eye to the antics of the taxi industry for as many years as I can remeber. Our cities are used as bumper car arenas by the taxi industry in their blstent display to all road users on how to break every rule of the road and get away with it. The RSA should be called the ETA (Easy Target Authority) for it total inability to change the way in which the taxi industry is permitter to operate with no driving standard tests, continious driving assessments and enforcment by the authority and the Gardai in making members of the taxi industry comply with the rules of the road (as operators of public service vehicles) in the interests of both the general public and its customers. The RSA consistently targets sections of the motoring public where they can appear to be making change but in actual fact are using their authority in order to secure financial reward for the state on the backs of moorists who are used as footballs by the people who see more in their power and authority rather than a genuine need to make our roads safer.
The taxi industry display a blatent disregard for the rules of the road, which can be seen for all to see, every night of every week in all the cities and towns around the country, We ask ourselves why our young people appear to have a complete disregard for the rules of the road, the taxi industry is a visible example of why nobody appers to give a shit, sure if they can do it then why cant I. There again gaybo does not drive a car, has never driven a car, and by the way, has consistently ignores the taxi industry possibly because he has spent more time in taxis listening to people who see everybody else as being the problem and a hinderence in their efforts to generate capital.
Mr Byrne said he would go if nothing changed while he was chairman of the authority. Nothing has changed, if anything the vast majority of people have a total disregard for the ability of the RSA to bring in measures that will lead to an increased level of road safety and awareness across the board. The provisional driving licence debacle was a clear example that the people at the top of the Road Safety Authority were lacking in the ability to develop a plan that would be fair to those that previous governments directly contributed to the current situation. Mr Byrne was made a scapegoat for government and ministerial inabilities to tackle all our road safety problems without standing on the toes of those who hold a vested interest in mainaining the status quo. Mr Byrne now needs to go, the RSA has lost the respect of the public as an authority that has the interest of road safety at the forefront of its objectives to make our roads safer. It has U turned on decisions its has made and has pandered to ministerial interference when those decisions fell foul of the general public.
The driving instructor iniative was brought in at a time when the authority was attempting to force people off the road when in actual fact there was not enough fully qualified instructors registered by the authority in order to meet the increased demand for tuition when the June 30th deadline came. Another situation by an authority that put the cart before the horse by not getting all the backup services full in place before it came out with this JUne 30th deadline. New recruits in the Gardai now find they cannot drive back and forward from the training college in Templemore because such action may loose them their ability to complete their training due to dismissal from the Gardai for breaking the law. Talking about building a house before laying the foundation.
The Road SAfety Authority has promoted some good initiatives since its conception, but it needs a new figure that can speak as a driver, road user and an authority on issues relating to all aspects of road safety and enforcement of the rules of the road, Conor Faughnan in the AA may be the person who as head of the RSA will be able to bring back the public confidence needed in order for the authority to move forward. One thing is absolutely certain, the longer Mr Byren and Mr Brett remain as figure heads within the RSA the more painful it will be for everyone to accept that road safety is not just an election issue but a issue that qill affect ourselves or our loved ones.
14 Comments
Bravo, nice to see someone who exposes the governments road safety strategy for what it is.
So far it has only consisted of halfmeasures (trying to get every learner driver of the road in a matter of weeks), U-turns (on the same, thankfully), scapegoating (”boyracres”, how I detest that term) and bleating tired, old, recycled mantras copied and pasted from the UK road safety campaigns over the years.
It is a typical example of research by Google, heavy-handedness, knee-jerk reactions and just downright headless chicken panic.
Road safety sadly is not achieved overnight, but takes years of proper planning, education, driver training, implementation and enforcement.
Let’s hope we do not see the sort of planning that is bestowed upon things like the (too low) port tunnel. It is a shining example of the triumph of ignorance, shortsightedness, shambolic planning and sheer pigheadedness by the government over turning a worthwhile project into what could have only been a success.
But good planning seems to be hard to come by, when cronyism and brown envelopes win over common sense.
But we would never vote for those liars, fraudsters and criminals in power if we didn’t know that any of the others where just as bad…
Footnote to article.
Although new regulations relating to Provisional and permit licence holders come into effect within the next two days, there has not been one single advertisement to make drivers aware of the consequences driving on a provisional licence or permit will have after the deadline of the 30th of June. It appears once again that the information relating to these rules is best passed around by word of mouth rather than as an offical campaign by the RSA to make all drivers aware of this change. Once again as with the original provisional driver licence debacle, last minute screams and a hasened release of information to the media by the RSA on the day is still the Irish way of sorting out its own internal problems.
OH no! i WAS WRONG…SECOND GOOD THING ABOUT CLOSURE:Â NO more verbose rubbish from Jim Travers…as bad as John Smith!.
i am generally not an abusive person when it comes to commenting on individual responses to articles or comments made by contributors to both this site and many other sites, but this arsehole harry is a typical example of why this country is slipping into a stage of decline.If John Smith, jim travers or anybody else wishes to provided their six pence worth of comment and opinion on the carnage we see as a result of bad driving practices then at least somebody is trying to contribute in some way, in an effort to reduce the carnage on our roads. There are thousands of people like Harry in our society, people who laugh at the small but contributing efforts of people who have a genuine interest in saving lives, while the Harry’s of this world romp and dance around, knocking everybody and everything that comes in their way as they sit in front of their television screens and watch the carnage unfold in front of then and then complain that nobody is doing anything. I live on a road where the ASB thugs portray an image of niceness, GA involved, respect and an ourtward image of love and devotion to everyone around them, while at the same time plotting and planning the heartache and pain of their fellow neighbours, as they encourage others from neighbouring estates to target fellow residents on their road. I might presume that Harry may find it delightful to see a site dedicated to resolving issues of ASB closed down because individual memebrs of the site contribute their six pence worth in helping to resolve issues of ASB
I may not agreee with John Smith and some of his opinions, but I must respect his opinions and admire his efforts and his contributions to road safety. The ” Oh no, second good thing about closure” is a typical example of a nut who treks the internet looking for issues to have a laugh about and slag instead of contributing to the betterment of society. The antisocial behaviour gangs( and I have experienced them) who love to see the heartache and pain of others, so long as the same heartache and pain does not knock on their door are the same muppets who gallop to the Gardai for help when they are affected, while at the same time would not give the same members of the force a plaster if they were bleeding. I notice Harry writes his two cent piece at 2.27am in the morning, so possible I should forgive his mental state of mind at that hour of the morning when he probable has undresses from his thugs gear for the night, fallen into his bed after a feed of beer, only to waken the following morning,showers himself in order to sober up for work on Monday and portary an image that is only present during the lack of alcohol in his system. Or is harry one of our dear taxi drivers who after an evenings work, turns on his computer and finds offence with the truth staring him in the face and the knowledge that many others around see his business for what it really is?
Grow up Harry , your still a child with a toy you do not yet know how to fully master. A toy that intelligent people designed and manufactured in order for you to peddle your tripe.
Only one problem about your little rant here, You seem to blame the poor taxi for all the traffic problem in our country. Its not taxi drivers Insurance claims I am dealing with every day. No! far from it. In my 7 years working in insurance, i have rarely dealt with a taxi insurance claim. Statistics in fact would show there very low risk insurers. When have you last seen a accident involving a taxi.
OK they move around a bit in traffic. but I am sure the customer looking at the meter probably is encouraging them to do so.
Loggorhea IS curable
Sorry you are closing: this is a very entertaining conveying a serious message. I will miss your posts. I trust a new blog will emerge soon.
Behaviour breeds behaviou
Having low insurace claims against taxis does not necesarily mean the statistics also imply that they are good drivers. Take any city or town around the country and count the amout of breaches of the rules of the road by the vast majority of taxis at any particular time on any particular day, never mind the other notorious antics of U turns across continious white lines, allowing passengers in and out of vehicles in the middle of street, and restricting the ability of other road users to pass safely as the taxi comes to a halt and the driver decides to have his mid day snack. With one finger out the window , its F*** you, i’ll stop where I so damn well please.
Give you an example, its pointless, the practice is rampant right acroos the country. This does not mean that all taxi drivers are bad drivers, unfortunately from years of observation it appears that the percentage of compliant drivers is in the low bracket.
Wipe your eyes, take a walk around any city or town throughout the country and then finally admit, as public service vehicle operatotrs their stardards of compliance with the rules of the road is something that the RSA has continiusly failed to address at the expemse of everyone else. Enforcing the new learner driver permit regulations as means of making sure people are qualified to drive on our roads is but a joke if the same learner drivers are to mimic the driving standards of the taxi industry. If I was a learner driver  I’d do my very best to get a full licence , a PSV licence and then throw the rule book as far out of the window as I possibly could. I would then become part of the roof top illumination drivers who in the total interest of business, apply the rules of the road,when and only when the situatuion works in their favour.
I’m not knocking the taxi industry, i’m questioning the inability or unwillingness of the RSA and the representative bodies within the taxi industry to wake up to a fact that appears to be evident to the vast majority of people, including motorists.Â
Behaviour breets behaviour
Jim (or anyone else)
Would you consider taking over the site yourself?
Jim made a pretty strong point with some practical ideas about what the collective “we” could do. But is he the man for the job, in a foot-in-mouth kinda way? I admit to being more an entertained spectator and occasional commentator and if the site is to close then, a pity though it is, I respect it (and will remember those days in melancholy sepia LOL). Fair play and good wishes to anyone who does decide to take on the challenge.
It was a good idea at the time, so Niall - many thanks again.
Would you consider taking over the site yourself?
No, thanks. I was present at the birth and, it would appear, the death. And I watched the intervening time from a distance.
I’m tempted to take it on but I just don’t have the time right now.
But perhaps there are folks who would, if they weren’t scared off by terms like domain name and self-hosting.
I noticed over the last year that most commenters are non-techies. Maybe a short post explaining the process and that site ownership is neither expensive nor does it require one to be an IT engineer might prompt someone to come forward.
I may have someone taking it over… watch this space
Okay, well the good news (as you can probably see now) is that the site has been taken over and will continue to live on with new life being breathed into it by its new owner.
Hooray \o/
Sorry Jim travers.
I don’t agree at all with you and I think it is you who needs to examine this obvious problem you have with taxi drivers and whats it’s doing to your vision. There are bad taxi drivers but they don’t stand out any more on our streets than any bad driver. I am kept awake at night by idiots doing doughnuts at a near by junction from my home. I am reading about the thousands of idiots that were last year caught drink driving. I am reading about the countless deaths and accidents on our roads and Not even one case involved a taxi driver. You conclusion from these facts is that Taxi drivers are the dangerous drivers. I remember a few years ago visiting Dublin and outside a Garda Station, Garda members had parked, double parked and left hand brakes of, so that other’s could push the cars forward when they needed to get there own out.
Look just read your paper who is being prosecuted for these offences. Try deal with you personal problems with taxi drivers in your own time.