Life on our Roads
Over the past few days Steph wrote about the perils of drinking and driving. Alas the total number of road deaths in the south of Ireland for 2008 has now reached 276. All the TV and newspaper advertising is geared towards not drinking if you are going to drive a car.
Yesterday the Gardaí named three teenagers killed in a road crash in Tipperary on New Years Eve. They were young men aged 14, 16 and 17 all from the County. Two others, a 15-year-old boy and a 16 year-old-girl, were injured. They remain in a serious condition in hospital in Limerick. The five teenagers were travelling in a car at around 7.30pm near Nenagh. Gardaí said the crash happened when the car left the road, mounted a ditch and hit a tree. The report did not say who the driver was. The oldest of the group was 17 years old and that is the legal age to learn to drive. This all made me think…..
Most young learner drivers practice in small low powered cars. They are, or should be accompanied by a qualified driver. The process involves learning the rules of the road, how to read road signs, speed limits and using the manual controls of the vehicle. So you learn how to signal, Parallel Park, reverse and three point turns and most important how to make an emergency stop. All this is very laudable and grand. Even when the person sits the test there are only two people in the car – the tester and the testee.
At no point that I am aware of, does the Highway Code cover driving a car full of giggling passengers. Does it tell you how the extra weight of passengers in the back seats or a heavy load in the boot can affect how a car moves when brakes are applied or when going around a bend? I think that part of the learning process should take place in a simulator that covers all weather and load conditions. Pilots use these type of simulators as part of their training so why not road drivers. Are there not more road deaths world wide than aircraft fatalities?
Here in Northern Ireland once a person has passed a written test and a practical one they graduate from ‘L’ plates to ‘R’ plates for six months. The ‘R’ is for restricted driving. With ‘R’ plates the driver may drive unaccompanied but must not exceed 45 miles per hour on any road. It may not prevent all deaths but it does help.
Keith Gaughan said,
January 2, 2009 at 8:14 am
There’s only one problem, and a stupid one at that, with introducing that down here in the South: people with a full licence and no R-plate will bitch, moan and beep horns at the people who have them, not to mention that similar rules already exist for drivers with L-plates, but are widely flaunted.
Still, if it could help, it’d be well worth it.
Keith Gaughan said,
January 2, 2009 at 8:15 am
Oh, and happy new year! I’m not sure if George passed on my wishes, so I guess I should do it now, just in case.
steph said,
January 2, 2009 at 9:02 am
Grannymar,
Sadly, the deaths of those three teenagers brings the total number of road deaths for the year to 279… that’s four more lives needlessly lost since the RSA published their figures on 30 December.
Thankfully, attitudes to ‘drink driving’ have changed and it’s no longer seen as acceptable (by the majority) but now the RSA needs to work on the issue of speeding in order to reduce the numbers of deaths on our roads.
I totally agree with you about the problem of inexperienced drivers. The car that the teenagers were in, was apparently a ‘banger’ purchased in recent days for €500. This was a tragedy simply waiting to happen.
Caren Kennedy said,
January 2, 2009 at 9:49 am
Happy New Year one and all. I haven’t commented on your blog before Grannymar - so hello as well!
My teenage son is studying the driver theory test here in the Republic. It’s putting the fear of God in me and he hasn’t even put foot to pedal yet. For example, if a car stalls / gets trapped on a level crossing and a train’s coming what should one do? Teenager’s answer: let down the handbrake and push the car off the tracks - fast. My answer: don’t cross until it’s clear and you’re positive the car can make it. The ‘correct’ answer: phone Irish Rail. Yeah right.
It gets worse. In the actual driving test parallel parking isn’t included as it’s proved ‘too difficult’ for learners in the past. Instead, three point turns and reversing round a corner are tested instead. Even very experienced drivers will think twice about doing both if there’s a safer alternative. And this primarily because of Keith’s comments.
On the continent, learners are rigorously trainned and tested driving on various road conditions, including motorways and at night before they qualify for a driver’s permit. It’s also part of the secondary school curriculum.
In short, I agree with you absolutely (and other commenters). God love the parents of those teenagers though.
Ian said,
January 2, 2009 at 11:28 am
If Garda resources were more devoted to encouraging safe driving than generating income, it might help the situation. They have speed traps in bizarre places - such as the N11 dual carriageway at Belfield and at Loughlinstown, where the speed limit drops arbitrarily to 60 kph and motorists are easy prey.
Nick said,
January 2, 2009 at 2:06 pm
The problem is that however many tests and laws and restrictions are imposed on motorists, there are always drivers reckless and irresponsible enough to do utterly stupid things on the road and cause deaths and injuries. How you get them to act sensibly I really don’t know.
Grannymar said,
January 2, 2009 at 2:18 pm
@Keith - Ignorant drivers with a full licence asre no excuse for not implementing improvements.
Thanks for the good wishes. Who is George?
You can remind him on Monday!
@Steph - This loss of young life is tragic and the ripples of heartbreak hurt the families, friends and the whole community.
@Caren - Welcome on board and I hope your year ahead is a good one. I am pleased to hear your young son is studying for the driver theory test. Please don’t let it put the fear of God in you. All youngsters should automatically learn to drive as part of the secondary school curriculum. We live in a world of motor vehicles. I see women of my age and older who never learned to drive. They are now restricted in where they go and at a stage in life where learning to drive is beyond them.
@Ian – Speed traps wherever they are will not solve the problem of bad driving. Once we sit behind the wheel of a car we have a responsibility to other drivers and pedestrians.
@Nick – The more people who are taught to drive properly and with responsibility the better for everyone.
Welcome home to this side of the globe. Stay warm and all Good Wishes for the year ahead. I look forward to reading about your travels.
Lottie said,
January 2, 2009 at 2:53 pm
It’s a great idea GM but the problem is enforceability. And people will always take risks and peer pressure and showing off is always an issue.
And while I believe that a vast majority of crashes (not necessarily road deaths but regular injuries and crashes) are caused by younger more impetuous drivers, all you have to do is spend a half hour on the road and you will see how many people drive carelessly due to impatience or bad temperament.
And don’t even get me started on BMW, Merc, Lexus drivers.
robert said,
January 2, 2009 at 3:51 pm
I was as saddened as anyone when I heard about the accident in Tipperary but did anyone else notice the other statistic that cropped up yesterday?
That is 204 Irish people died or were killed on holidays in 2008. The cynic in me was wondering last night if we might have to take a test now before going on holidays!
On a serious note regarding driving, everyone has made some good and valid points and of course everyone will have some horror stories especially regarding learner drivers. Just an hour ago I was getting ready to parallel park across the road from my house and I was beside the car that I was going to park in front of with my indicators on (indicating left).
Behind me was a mid 1990’s Nissan Micra and yes they had L plates up. Anyway I was waiting for the traffic coming against me to pass as I needed to cross the white line to make sure I could reverse in to my parking spot and as soon as I moved forward the little Micra moved forward too thereby making it impossible for me to park.
I reckon this highlights a more serious problem on the roads in that people just don’t think when they are driving. They don’t pay attention to signs, road conditions etc, and more than a fair share don’t give any consideration towards other road users, learners, cyclists, or pedestrians or who and whatever else may be on the roads.
It is a pleasant surprise to find that drink driving as Steph mentioned, is no longer seen as being acceptable. However I think that tackling ignorance on the roads will be a much tougher nut to crack!
P.S. Happy new year Grannymar!
Grannymar said,
January 2, 2009 at 4:27 pm
@Lottie – We teach children that if they put their hands in the fire or on the hot cooker they will get burned. We need to teach our learner drivers, firstly the mechanics of driving and secondly to have respect for others in the vehicle or on the roads around us.
It is not the size or make of the car, but the temperament and skill of the driver that counts.
@Robert – Driving without due care and attention is a Criminal Offence. We need to take tackling ignorance on the roads seriously!
It won’t be that long before Lucas wants to drive, the best way to teach him will be by your example. If we had a wonderful work of Art in our cars we would drive carefully. People are more precious than ANY work of Art
wisewebwoman said,
January 2, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Great post GM, absolutely right in that real conditions of driving are never tested.
Synchronicity - as my daughter and I had this conversation whilst doing our recent trip. Here, drivers are never tested on black ice and snow which can be a total hazard on roads for months at a stretch. Also fog in NL.
Groups of teens are such bad news in cars - the weight as you mentioned and also distraction and the temptation to fool around.
When I think of the chances I took when learning to drive on the boreens of Cork when I was 18!!! In those days you paid 5 pounds, no test, and got your licence. Imagine!!!
XO
WWW
Baino said,
January 2, 2009 at 6:17 pm
I’m stunned at the number considering Ireland has the same population as us . . .unbelievable. We have very rigorous Learner and Provisional testing. A Learner must do 150 hours and complete a log book with details of their journeys including driving in inclement weather and a specified amount of night driving. They then wear red P plates for a year (only 1 passenger allowed) and Green P Plates for a further year before graduating to a ‘black’ license. This means that at the youngest they are 19 years old when they qualify. It helps but it doesn’t stop accidents on country roads where mostly tiredness prevails or just idiots driving too fast and wrapping themselves around a pole. . .although our toll at last count was 47. We also have double demerits (drivers have 12 points awarded every three years) which means twice the points deducted for a traffic infringement. Adam’s latest ‘dingle’ for instant cost him a $250 fine and 7 points (mandatory if you run into the back of someone).
Grannymar said,
January 2, 2009 at 7:30 pm
@WWW – I followed your nightmare journey from Newfoundland to Toronto and thought we got away easily by comparison. Only saving grace about the days of the £5 Licence was there were no motorways and much less traffic and the cars didn’t travel so fast.
@Baino – I like the way your driving laws are in Australia. Looks like people take it seriously.
Magpie11 said,
January 2, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Mm! I don’t drive…my choice…. but whilst learning a few years back I began to notice the number of dangerous drivers around me in East London (UK)….. they had no respect for my learner status and on more than one occasion caused me to have to brake very hard…I told my instructor ( a salt of the earth Cockney type….”Bleedin’ hell! that was brilliant…I won’t have to teach you to do an emergency stop!”…) that I would not be taking the test…. Buses, trains and cabs for me as well as Shankses pony.
As a pedestrian who knows something about this driving lark I notice even more bad driving.
My Youngest learned to drive and put it on the back burner…he had extra lessons after he’d passed his test and has a few more every so often just to keep his hand in and now rides a large motor bike…veeeery carefully..but he’s highly intelligent and conscientious to a fault.
We still lie awake waiting for him to come in!
steph said,
January 2, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Grannymar
I spotted some statistics in the paper today which back-up Lottie’s comment about younger, more impetuous drivers.
Of the 279 people who died on Irish roads in 2008…
42% were aged under 25
1/3 were in the age bracket 16-25
46% of accidents occurred at week-ends
I think this speaks volumes about where the problems lie.
The key factor that’s missing with inexperienced drivers is the ability to ‘anticipate’. This is a skill that develops with time and is another very good reason why restrictions should apply in the early days of driving.
Grannymar said,
January 2, 2009 at 8:03 pm
@Magpie - I think it is easier to learn to drive when young. I did travel pillion on a motor bike once and only once. I prefer to be in the tin box!
The staying awake only ends when the chickens leave the coup!
Grannymar said,
January 2, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Steph,
You are correct about the ‘anticipation’.
Did those stats give a Male - Female breakdown? I know that when Elly was learning the insurance for her was about half that for a boy of the same age.
Jefferson Davis said,
January 2, 2009 at 9:31 pm
That’s a grand idea. We should do something like that here in the states. Just about anyone can drive here. I had to go through a rigorous six month programme and have a pile of paper work signed because I am blind in one eye.
In 2008, we had 894 car fatalities. My states population is four and a half million. The roads were a lot safer when I was a knee high to a grasshopper.
Great post, Grannymar.
Grannymar said,
January 2, 2009 at 10:15 pm
JD,
When you were a nipper (that was yesterday, right?) the roads were perhaps not so crowded or the cars so powerful.
Grannymar said,
January 2, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Bernie has a post covering a different angle of this topic. http://www.insideview.ie/irisheyes/2009/01/scrap-in-ditches.html
Bernie Goldbach said,
January 3, 2009 at 8:42 am
I’ve watched how the issue of petrol-powered transportation has morphed into an enshrined rural value and I think that’s so wrong. On its back rides those who have perverted the car culture into an excuse to ride around with loud pipes after midnight while marking the roads with their rubber tracks. Neither of these developments is civilised behaviour but car-powered constituent power is on the rise, to the detriment of me and my desire to treat pedestrians as the first priority accommodated by town and road planners.
Grannymar said,
January 3, 2009 at 10:33 am
Bernie,
Pedestrians & cyclists are often forgotten or ignored by drivers. The other thing I notice on rural roads is how few drivers slow down when they see a rider on horseback….. it only takes a few seconds.
Magpie11 said,
January 3, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Insurance: Age 24, gender male, vehicle 1050 motor cycle cost 4,000GBP….but, build a lock-up and tell insurers about it and then add little registered microdots all over the machine: cost 1,600 GBP
Grannymar said,
January 3, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Magpie,,
That is some difference!
Gary said,
January 4, 2009 at 11:03 am
My eldest passed her driving test a couple of years ago, I enjoyed our trips out on her “L” plates while I drummed into her the one and only rule that you need for driving - give yourself time and space.
Its the simplest thing to do and yet the most common rule to break - you do not need to drive five yards from the back of the car in front, it really isn’t necessary and it won’t get you home any quicker.
And yet what did I find when she passed her test and I sat alongside her afterwards ? She did what all young people do and she drove right up to the car in front and stayed there - I actually told her to stop and took the keys off her once because I considered her driving to be so dangerous, not fast, just impossible to stop in time if the car in front had to stop quickly.
Her reaction to all of this is the standard one for all people of her age “my reactions are quicker than yours”, she, like all youth, believes herself to be invincible and the poor kids who died in the accident that you mentioned probably thought the same too.
When I was her age I lost two friends in two separate accidents, at that time I was travelling 30,000 miles a year in my job - it slowed me down, it made me check my car regularly, it made me give myself plenty of room on the road - its very simple but you cannot explain it to someone of youthful years, they unfortunately have to learn it.
Grannymar said,
January 4, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Wise words Gary, alas sometimes leaving space leads to impatient drivers overtaking and pushing in just to gain and extra few feet in the line of traffic.