Dublin traffic in the rain
Dec | September 18, 2006What is it with car drivers and the rain? It seems that they look out their windows see the rain start and think to themselves “Oh look rain, I think I’ll drive around for a while”. I would like to say it’s Dublin only, but I’m pretty sure it’s a world wide phenomenon.
I had to go into town today to get some tickets checked at a travel agents and the roads were as busy as I’ve seen them in ages. Packed solid with traffic. Rush hour in the middle of the day. In total I spent about 80 minutes on the bus for 10 minutes in the travel agents. Now looking out my window it’s sunny and the roads are flowing freely.
Here are a couple of tips for Dublin drivers in the rain.
- 1) Yes we know its raining, but that does not mean the bus lanes are open. I don’t care what your mates in the pub told you.
2) Speaking of bus lanes, those big yellow things, they are called buses. Take one, it’ll make things better for everyone.
3) No, you don’t need the Evening Herald right at this moment and no you don’t need to drive to the local shop to get it. If you are determined to read this mornings news remember God gave us umbrellas so people could spend a few minutes walking in the rain.
4) Splashing the water off the road does not help dry the roads, it only pisses off the pedestrian you soak. Formula 1 cars may need a dry line but your 98 reg Mercedes does not and you certainly are not Michael Schumacher.
5) Everyone else is in the same boat as you. Beeping your horn and waving your arms will not make the cars disappear, no matter what you think you learned from Harry Potter.
6) Your hair is already ruined, you wont be able to fix it in the rear view mirror. Just drive the car.
Ok, rant over.
Super, super rant Dec!! Funny stuff, and so true!
Nice one Dec, couldn’t agree more
I’d like to add another:
7) Indictors work in the rain, please use them.
And it seems even the Ryder Cup captain isn’t immune from the M50 carpark.
Indicators work all the time, please use them all the time!!
Does anyone know or understand why the road signs on the M50 are being changed from the european style of reflective silver on a blue background to the non reflective black on orange road works style (perhaps they’re tring to tell us something). They provide inferior legibility especially at night
Ian,
It’s because the M50 is now a road-works zone. The entire length from the Toll Bridge to Ballymount is a works zone, with a 60kph speed-limit, and the associated orange&black road works signs!
I saw an article a while back on naming conventions for motorways and why the M50 was named “50″ considering all the other motorways are in numerical order. It was suggested at the time (in jest I guess?) the reason was “because it will take 50 years to build”. Not far wrong!
Oh now I see, thanks Daragh. So just in case we hadn’t noticed the roadworks and 60k limit (as we pass by at 4k max) they spend many thousands of our hard earned cash to change the sign colour! suppose it provides employment too.
[...] If you find yourself crawling along in this week’s rain and wondering how a few scant droplets from above can make congestion so much worse, remember that we’re not alone — check out this precipitation-related traffic rant from Dublin. [...]