I'm driven to the 'ledge' of reason
Monday April 07 2008
Various parts of the M50 road surface, heading up to and passing the 'Red Cow', are scraped away, turreted, and generally missing. This appears exclusive to the inside lane.
I endured the car lightly thumping over all of this, alternately going to the outside lane -- which has a good surface -- when it was free.
The problem with the outside lane is that many people do 100kph there and more -- after all, the 'roadworks' limits are meant to be 60kph along there.
As I progressed towards the toll plaza, back in the inside lane, the car went over a sheer tarmacadam 'ledge' across the inside lane.
At a guess, this was about two inches high, and spanned the entire width of the inside (but not outside) lane.
The car went over it (I had slowed from 60kph when I saw it) with a sickening thump.
It was as though the car had no front tyres and was hitting it on the bare rims, such was the severity of the impact.
At this point I shouted an expletive, and promptly moved to the outside lane. To hell with it!
I ignored the speedometer and kept up with everyone else for the rest of my time on the M50.
Was I breaking the limit? Probably. Would I be happy to do it again? -- absolutely.
In fact I would be happy to do it with Noel Brett, Gay Byrne and the Garda Commissioner sitting behind me tut-tutting (actually, there's not enough room; Noel might have to be consigned to the boot).
As soon as I got to the N2, back to normal it was.
While I'm all for obeying the limits, I'm not going to have my car wrecked in the process.
Not only do those who break the limits have the advantage in most ways, but they also get better roads provided by the NRA!
It later dawned on me that the 'ledge' I drove over has been there for over a year.
The NRA and everyone else with a so-called 'interest' are some cheeky hoors to leave it there. It is as though damage to people's property -- which costs them an arm and a leg in every way already -- is somehow 'alright'.
ANTHONY HALPIN
BRAY, CO WICKLOW
