Dear Editor,
As a regular driver on the dual carriageway between Oranmore and Galway, I am astonished at some of the rude and boorish drivers I come across.

Let me elucidate further please. I drive on the dual carriageway several times daily, Monday to Friday. On one stretch of it I drive on the outside lane, as that's where I need to be to correctly exit the next roundabout.

Without fail, at least once a week, I encounter a motorist (almost always male but in two instances female) who drives right up behind me, tailgates, and proceeds to flash their lights and on occasion point to the left lane, signalling for me to move over.

Then of course, when I don't, they inevitably go into the inside lane to get by me and always, time and again, I get this 'filthy look as they pass by and drive off into the sunset at high speed in front of me. I am not a mind reader, but judging by the look of hostility on their face, it is obvious that they are upset that I didn't bow to their own imaginary superiority and move over out of their way.

I could understand it to an extent if I was driving 'at snail's pace', but in every single instance I was driving at the legal speed limit of 100kph.

The first couple of times it happened it irked me to a certain degree, but now that it is a weekly occurrence, my patience is really beginning to wane.

Let me try to get a handle on these individual's rationale for a moment … I can only surmise from their behaviour, that for these motorists, the speed limit of 100kph is something not to be heeded or observed and the like of myself and other law abiding motorists, who comply with the speed limits, appear to be a thorn in their side who deserve to be reproached for having the audacity to get in their way!

I am not moving over for you or your ilk and may I suggest that other motorists don't yield to their form of bullying either.

I pay my motor tax and insurance and have as much right to drive on our roads as these uncivilised people who attempt to 'throw their weight around'.

The only people I will make way for are the Ambulance Services, An Garda Siochana, the Fire Brigade and other emergency vehicles as well as other civilised (and I stress civilised) motorists who, under certain extenuating circumstances, may need to be given a little lee way on our roads for whatever reason.

On a final note, I wonder would these smug people have the effrontery to drive right up behind a squad car and flash their lights? I strongly suspect not!

Sincerely yours,
Mags, Oranmore.

Comments (7) »

Silly silly person.
written by t.c, May 15, 2008

Other drivers flashing a silly person like you to get off the right hand lane is not bullying. You have no right to hold up the right hand lane. You are a ROAD HOG !

Learn the rules of the road you silly woman.

Welcome to planet Earth
written by Brian, May 15, 2008

Welcome to Planet Earth Mags.

Here in Ireland on planet Earth, it is illegal and against the rules of the Road to hog the right lane
as you are doing even if you are doing 100kph.
This is the OVERTAKING LANE.
I will say it one more time.........OVER TAKING LANE

I take the registration of every car that blocks the righthand lane from overtaking and report them to the Gardai and I would suggest everyone else to the same.
This is this onyl way to wake these road hogs up.

I meet muppets like this every morning and evening going to and from work. These amoeba also cannot use double lane roundabout either. How did they get a licence ?

I was driving down the carriageway one evening on the left hand lane and there was only two cars on it. Me and some other guy. He was driving illegally in the righthand lane with nothing around him. A motor bike cop can up behind him. Waited and waited for him to yield to the left lane. The driver didn't. The blue lights when on and the Cop pulled him over for a ticket. Good job Ponch !

B.

Mags you can't drive !
written by Aidan, May 15, 2008

Is Mags aware (obviously not) that driving on the right hand lane is breaking the rules of the road. She could get penalty points for this. I also doubt very much that she is driving at the speed limit either if the cars are flashing her to yield to the left lane.

She should be reported to the Gardai for this ignorant driving. I hope she caught and gets penalty points.

Also I would like to point out to slower drivers/traffic (i.e. tractors, trucks, cars with trailers horse boxes) You do not get penalty points for pulling into the hard shoulder of single lane roads. Penalty points only apply to Dual carriageways and Motorways. So when you look in your mirrors, please have the intelligence to yield to the line of traffic behind you. It is against the rules of the roads also to hold up traffic, and you must be able to stay as close to the limit as possible.


Aidan.

mmmm
written by mike, May 15, 2008

spend more tine with the rules of the road and less with the dictionary please...

Get Off Your High Horse Mags
written by KevinJ, May 15, 2008

The sad thing is that people like Mags from Oranmore probably passed her driving test before dual carriageways and motorways existed in this country. Or possibly she received her full licence at the time of a provisional licence amnesty. Either way, the country is full of sanctimonious drivers like Mags who (through lack of education) have no idea of lane discipline, and who think it is acceptable to hog the outside lane of a dual carriageway or motorway simply because they've paid their "motor tax and insurance".

Astonished at 'rude and boorish' Galway drivers
written by Smirchbag, May 14, 2008

I could not agree more with Thomas, Galway Driver. Mags from Oranmore should take a few driving lessons first before he/she decides to critisise other road users. The "fast lane" is only an overtaking lane, and should only be used for that. Lesson #1 upon entering the overtaking lane, when you have completed your overtaking manoeuvre, when it is safe to do so, move back into the INSIDE LANE. Problem solved, no more booish and rude people will flash you.

Learn the Rules Of The Road!
written by Thomas, May 14, 2008

It would be of benefit if the writer of 'Astonished at rude and boorish Galway drivers'14th May 2008, would learn the rules of the road!! So often I come across drivers who go from one round-a-bout to the other traveling in the outside lane! This is not the correct way to use dual carriageways, even if they are going to exit right at the next round-a-bout.

Please note the following; section 9 rules of the road:
"Dual carriageways are roads with two or more lanes of traffic travelling in each direction. The outer or right-hand lane in each direction is the lane nearest to the centre of the dual carriageway".

"You must normally drive in the left-hand lane of a dual carriageway. You may use the outer lane of a two-lane or three-lane dual carriageway only":

* for overtaking, and
* when intending to turn right a short distance ahead.

By getting into the left lane, no matter what spend you are traveling at, allows other drivers to overtake in a safe manner in the outside lane!

The fact that the driver in question is traveling at 100km h, does not matter and is the one in the wrong unless the inside lane is occupied by traffic, in which case they are overtaking those. But if the inside lane is free, then as soon as entering the section of dual-carriageway the driver should take up possition in the inside lane! They should only move out to the outside lane as they approach the next round-a-bout if they are using the 3rd,4th,5th exits (turning right).
Speed has nothing to do with using the road correctly and that is why the writer got the 'looks' from those having to overtake on the inside.

Please read the 'rules of the road'

thomas, galway driver

Show/Hide comment form

Name

Email

Title

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment