Quirks of the Irish driver
Tuesday July 31 2007
I read with interest Mr James Hudson's letter on Daytime running lights (DRLs) ('My simple plan for greater road safety' Letters, July 30).
I agree that they should be used as a safety aid, but sadly we have a number of people who switch on the lights in the evening not realising that they are on 'full beam' from the night before.
This is actually dangerous.
I often drive in 'half light' and sure enough, in the line of traffic on the N7 there will surely be people with headlamps full on.
I wish also that those with wonky dips (trucks included) would leave the lights off altogether.
I'd rather take my chances than be blinded or disorientated.
Similarly, people drive with rear foglamps on when there is no fog.
Those annoying fog lights would cut your eyes out on a long journey.
While, as a general rule, Mr Hudson is right, perhaps he would agree that Irish people have a problem with any such good suggestion.
It's a bit like the "slow down" message. People do a steady 80kph on an 100kph road and then they continue to do it through a 50 zone. Very "safe" indeed.
In my opinion the biggest hazard is lack of concentration.
While I agree with people using every aid at their disposal (properly), there is no substitute for being alert.
Another reader recently pointed out one of the biggest hazards of all, people trying to "make up" time.
Last but not least are the up and coming "execs" driving company cars who don't care one way or the other.
It's not their car and think they are infallible.
Similarly there are those who drive SUVs in the middle of the road through towns in the hope that oncoming traffic will get out of the way.
I forgot the people who do not know the basic Rules of the Road.
The problems are so numerous they would take up at least one complete issue of the Irish Independent.
ANTHONY HALPIN,
HERBERT ROAD,
BRAY, CO WICKLOW
