A Brief Guide for Tourist Drivers in Ireland; Part of a Series of Articles

Tourist Drivers in Ireland come in different shapestuition will also be introduced to bring about a
and sizes but for the purpose of this article wemuch needed improvement in Learner Driver skills.
are going to advise North American and EuropeanRoads Network
Visitors who are touring initially in a hired Car andRoads in Ireland can be categorized in the
who may settle at some time or another. We willfollowing ways
examine the following scenarios:-(1) Motorways
1. Demographics.(2) Dual Carriageways
2. Current Driving Scene.(3) National Primary Roads
3. Learner Driver Statistics.(4) Secondary Roads
4. Roads Network.(5) Rural Roads.
5. Motorway Network.For this article we will examine the first two.
6. Traffic Volumes.Motorways
The Demographics of Today's Ireland are uniqueMotorways are a relatively new phenomenon and
not only in Europe but Globally. We have recentlystill rather rare. Stretches of the Dublin to Cork
topped 4 million in the population for the first timeand Limerick roads have recently been upgraded
in 150 years. and this means that despite ourto Motorway status.
being at the top of the Growth ladder in EuropeThe M50 Motorway which rings Dublin is
for almost ten years and enjoying great,frequently very congested during Rush hours as
no...unprecedented, prosperity we are creaking atyou would expect. Motorway Sections, outside of
the seams in many areas. The average age ofthe M50 are primarily of two lane construction.
the population is under 30 but the baby-boomerMaximum speed was increased in January 2005
generation forms a large chunk of the populationto120kph (75mph) up from 70mph to coincide
(expand)with the Introduction of the new Metric Speed
The strain of such rapid growth on the fabric ofLimit system which does away with Miles per
society has had a huge impact on the area ofHour in favour of Kilometres per Hour. Naturally all
Driving, Learning to Drive, Driving Schools, Drivingspeed limit signs have been replaced with kph
Tests, Driving Legislation, Traffic Volumes, Fatalsigns.(there are still some forgotten signs waiting
Accidents, and Servicing Delays.to be replaced ...usually in Industrial Estates)
Current Driving SceneGenerally drivers obey the speed limits on
There has been an unprecedented rise in LearnerMotorways except for those individuals who are
Drivers on the roads due to two factors.completely oblivious of Road Regulations and
(1) Full Employment has meant that everyonelacking in common sense and more importantly
who wants to work has a job or career andgood Driving Skills!
needs to get to it every day. Since it isDual Carriageways
commonplace to travel considerable distances toDual Carriageways, particularly the newly built
get to work due to your current home location orones are almost identical to Motorways apart
for Housing availability which is often onlyfrom two significant differences...the speed limit on
affordable at greater distances from the worka dual carriageway is 100kph or a fraction over
place. Hence the need to have a car to get to60mph and the signs are green and not blue as in
work. It is not an option to be getting lifts fromthe case of Motorways.
neighbours or even work mates, at least not inSize, Design, Engineering and Placement of these
the long term.signs are identical to those found on Motorways.
(2) Since we are enjoying full employment withThere is a greater chance of Drivers exceeding
plenty of disposable income it is now possible forthe speed limits on carriageways primarily
young Drivers to be able to purchase cars whichbecause the size of the Garda Traffic Corps
would have been unthinkable just a few yearsmeans that it is likely that any infringement of the
ago! However the idea of taking lessons has notregulations will go unnoticed and unpunished!
yet caught on to the degree that is necessary inSince most older Drivers have never had to take
order to produce a new generation of safea Driving Test and most existing Learner Drivers
drivers. Legislation has not yet been enacted tohave neither taken Driving Lessons nor sat a
bring us in line with our European neighbours.Driving Test, it is imperative that Tourist Drivers
There are moves afoot as we speak since it hasexpect the worst from most Drivers around
been brought to the notice of the politicians inthem.
Europe that Ireland is not complying with the E.U.We have a beautiful Country with unspoilt
Declaration from way back in 1991 about LearnerScenery and mostly unpolluted waterways, a
Drivers being accompanied prior to the passing ofthriving Economy and probably one of the best
a Driving Test!educated workforces in Europe. Unfortunately
Learner Driver Statisticsthese same superlatives cannot be levelled at the
(1) There are approximately 406,000 provisionalDriver population which is untrained, undisciplined,
License holders on the Irish roads, whichand ill equipped to cope with the volume of traffic
represent one in every five cars or approximatelyon today's Irish roads. Remember 406,000
20 %!Learner Drivers means you will have them all
(2) The delays in Testing these Drivers andaround you on Dual Carriageways (and
allocating full licenses to those successful in theireverywhere else for that matter)
Driving Tests have got steadily worse throughoutIn the rest of this series of articles we will
the last two years as many proposals for theexamine the following...the three other types of
solution get discarded! The end result is anroads together with:-
absolute tidal wave of Learner Drivers, who are7. Irish Driving Faults.
not taking Lessons and when they do sit their8. Vehicles you will come across.
Driving Tests, are not being successful due to the9. Common Danger zones
poor skills displayed!10. Common Mistakes.
(3) Moves are continuing to introduce a11. Weather Conditions.
completely new regime of Licensed Driving12. Cars for Hire.
Instructors who will then, given time, be able to13. How to recognise other Tourist Drivers.
make an impact on the poor results showing in14. Being aware of Irish Learner Drivers.
Driving Tests. It is anticipated that mandatory15.