South Meath Driving School

It may have been a while coming, but, alas, it is upon us, as The Late Late Show introduction went ‘To those whom it may cancern!’ — procuration of the new driving licence. It will cause some concern for future applicants, but fear not the unknown. It will be more benign, smooth, acceptable to all than the Press release may indicate. It will present our roads as a safer place for all with a more educated approach from our youth who will take it all in their stride.

Changes there will be and not before its time. Driver testing was introduced in the Republic in 1964 and its dated system remained until the Road Safety Authority was established just four years ago, modernising training, testing and licensing.

This new Graduated Driver Licensing System (GDL) will apply to learner and novice drivers for a period of two years after passing a driving test. The RSA has carried out research in Canada, Australia and the UK as well as the benefit of public consultation seeking measures to protect the inexperienced driver while trying to avoid penalising the responsible, compliant novice driver.

Here are some of the changes that will be effective next year:

To be continued.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is currently running a new public service anti-drug driving advertisement which includes a 60 second piece called ‘Cell’ that was acquired from Victoria, Australia and adapted to our scene. It depicts the tragic consequences of a drivers decision to take drugs and drive, after leaving a nightclub. A second ad. titled ‘Dead girl talking’ has been adapted from the U.K. and is due for airing anytime now. It shows a young woman describe how she and her friends were involved in a crash after taking drugs, with fatal consequences.

Those advertisements by the RSA endeavour to bring it home to the public that consuming drugs can be lethal and, while the emphasis has generally been on drink driving, it serves to remind us that drugs can be equally devastating.

It is against the law to drive while under the influence of drugs, whether they be prescribed or illegal substances and it can be as dangerous as driving with too much alcohol. Alcohol will normally clear the human system within 12 to 20 hours, whereas the effect of drugs may last for days and traces of cannabis can be found in the urine up to 30 days after smoking a single ‘reefer.’ Reaction to drug consumption may take many forms, like poor concentration, confusion, overconfidence, erratic behaviour, hallucinations, aggression or dizziness.

Who’s consuming those drugs, one might ask? You’d be amazed! It may be members of your own family or unsuspecting friends. The RSA commissioned research among 17 to 34 year olds on the use of such drugs by drivers. It revealed that 22% admitted to being a passenger in a car driven by someone under the influence of a drug. They also believed that being under the influence of a drug was not as serious as being under the influence of alcohol. The survey was conducted on 1,000 people into the use of recreational drugs while driving and 1 in 20 admitted having driven while under the influence. What are these ‘ recreational’ drugs? Their consumption may be described as the use of a psychoactive or mindaltering substance with the intention of creating or enhancing recreational experiences. The use may be for medicinal purposes, performance enhancement or spiritual. Drugs not normally considered in this vein are tobacco and caffeine. This desire for ‘intoxication’ has been compared to the human desire to satisfy hunger, thirst or the need for shelter.

Illegal substances that are commonly consumed include Cannabis, Heroin, Cocaine and Ecstacy. The effects of Cannabis consumption is immediate, peaking after about 15 minutes. U.S. surveys show that a driver is three times more likely to have a crash following such consumption. Heroin gives a euphoric feeling and relief of pain, depressing reflexes resulting in poor coordination. Driving is seriously impaired. Cocaine exudes confidence, strength and intelligence – temporarily, of course. Judgement is impaired and the user becomes hyperactive. Ecstacy combines a hallucinogen with a stimulant, exaggerating all emotions. Balance and judgement of time and distance is affected. The pupils appear dilated.

The Gardai have power to arrest a driver under the influence of an intoxicant which includes alcohol and drugs or a combination of both. There are few arrests for drug-related driving: perhaps a reason may be that it is difficult to detect or assess. Unlike alcohol, there is no resultant smell of a users breath, there’s no roadside test to show a presence of a drug in the system so it’s down to clinical assessment at the initial stage. With 1 in 20 admitting to having driven while under the influence of drugs, maybe the Traffic Corps section will take a closer look at those ‘silent’ consumers and ask what they contribute to crash statistics. With mandatory alcohol breath testing after a crash, it’s fitting to have a similar power applied for drugtaking.

It is now four years since the Road Safety Authority devised a plan for higher standards of driving, more arduous test standards, new standards of driving instruction etc., all with the aim of reducing road deaths and serious injury.  Noel Brett’s and Gay Byrne’s efforts, plus a cohort of others within the structure, have been remarkable when one considers that in 1978 there were 628 deaths on the republics roads, in 2005 – 396 deaths, reducing to 240 in 2009. That statistic is all the more stark when one realises that today there are over two million vehicles on our roads, whereas in 1978 it was c.50% less.

However, there’s a flawed area that requires urgent remedy in the form of inadequate regulatory signage and road markings as well as contradictory signage in our towns. Any driver who holds a full driving licence should be able to drive competently through any town to which he or she is a total stranger, should the proper signs be in place.

As an example, I take Navan town where the RSA Driving Test is held in Co. Meath.

Firstly, trying to find the test centre at Athlumney, Kilcairn, is in itself quite a test. There’s no sign whatever on the Navan-Dublin Road indicating the location of the Test Centre. However, just past Kilcairn pub, there is a sunken manhole lid to a depth of four to five inches which would do serious damage to your alloy wheels. So, take the Johnstown Road sign into Metges Rd. Three hundred metres on, behold, there’s a timid looking sign for the Test Centre into a side road. Drive in to the left, there’s no more signs, and arrive in a cul de sac by the Boyne . Return and search within the new Dept. of Agriculture buildings on the left and there’s a little sign in a window ‘Driving Test Centre.’ Navan is the only test centre for the county, so most drivers sitting their test is a stranger to the Athlumney area. A Nigerian or Lithuanian might have greater difficulty here.

I outline the more obvious problem areas that a student driver will encounter in Navan:

Traffic lights on the N3 at the Kentstown Road crossjunction are being upgraded for several months now: there was a pole erected which obscured the green light by more than 50%. Surely the job should have been completed in less than one week, rather than four months.

Further on the Ring Road, turn right into the two-lane Flower Hill: there’s no signs at the entrance to indicate it’s a one-way street. Some 200m on, there’s road markings in the form of two white arrows which give the  only clue. Continue on and driver ‘A’ arrives at The Round O roundabout and attempts the 3^rd exit for Slane (from right traffic lane of course). A path, c. 1 meter wide around the centre island, pushes him outwards and Driver ‘B’ taking the 2^nd exit (Kingscourt) is either blocked or side by side ‘ A.’  There simply is not enough room to accommodate two vehicles on the roundabout. Then, if ‘B’ is a lorry, ‘A’ is squeezed  into pulling back or onto the path. Why aren’t the lanes properly marked? Answer – because it’s too narrow to take two lanes: just leave it to the motorists to do their best. Suggested cure – Make the ‘island’ much smaller or have only one traffic lane at the approach point from Flower Hill.

The junction of Kennedy Road , entering Trimgate St. – there’s no advance sign to indicate a left turn only. At the exit point there’s a zebra crossing which is in line with the very busy footpaths left and right. All such pedestrian crossings should be brought forward (c.5mts) from the junction as it is on the Continent, making matters safer for drivers and pedestrians. The road markings, here, take you left but there’s no upright sign to so indicate. Turning right from Market Square into Ludlow St. (at Clonard House, BOI) there’s a yield sign to the left. But, for the last few months that sign has been twisted around facing traffic approaching from the left. Who must yield here? [ The erection of new signs require sanction from the Minister for Transport in the form of a Statutory Instrument (S1) and publication before it becomes an authorised sign.

On from the Fairgreen is Churchill Rd. and into Bridge St (at the NewGrange Hotel); only on stopping at the stop sign can one observe that Bridge St. is a one way street , there being two ‘no entry’ signs to the left. Again there’s no one-way system sign in advance or at the junction.

Most drivers cope and make the sudden adjustments/corrections at the aforementioned locations. But they’re only in the penny halfpenny place in comparison to the crossjunction of Bridge St onto Circular Rd. – Academy St. This is the junction just down from the Palace Nightclub and Newgrange Hotel. It is Navan’s ‘Amen Corner’, the closest to impossible that I have witnessed in any town. The scene: At the exit from Bridge St., there’s an upright ‘Yield’ sign on the left (there should also be one on the right as this is a one way street with two lanes.)

Anyone’s interpretation of a yield sign is that the exit should be relatively easy to negotiate , or an area that shouldn’t pose any great danger. Driver ‘A’ moves to the mouth of this exit to take a right onto Circular Rd. – behold , there is a STOP LINE (a thick solid line, thus contradicting the Yield sign) in rainbow formation running across the junction and outwards for some metres either side. This area to the right and left of the exit lanes is ‘hatched’ to protect the exiting traffic; so traffic coming from the right is pushed outwards to their right. ‘A’s’ view to the right is about ten metres because of a high hoarding around a site. Question- how can one safely turn right here? Well, with great difficulty. Dash across to avoid a collision with whatever arrives from the right.

Not only must ‘A’ watch sharply to the right he also must cope with the flow of traffic from his left from the Ring Rd and Academy St., in front of him.

Driver ‘B’ wishes to turn left at this same junction and then left at the N3, about 20m away. Just at this point the single lane that is Circular Rd., now breaks into a two lane to accommodate traffic turning left and right on joining the Ring Rd. (N3.) But there’s a hatched area immediately to ‘B’s’ left as she exits from Bridge St.  The border lines of this hatched area have broad continuous white lines, so she cannot legally enter it. Rather, she must push out into the outer lane, turn left, indicate left, look over her left shoulder before coming back into the left lane. Why? Because most drivers ignore hatched areas and drive through them as if it was their right. So driver ‘B’ must avoid crashing into this traffic coming down Circular Rd. and intending to turn left at the N3. So why doesn’t ‘B’ drive immediately left through the hatched area? Because it is illegal for her to do so and in a driving test situation she will fail her test. So, what happens those who trundle through the hatched area: they are driving dangerously , selfishly, but sadly with impunity for unless a collision occurs, no Garda action will be taken, it appears.

Is there any easy solution? Perhaps. Remove the solid line of the hatched area on the near side of the left exit and replace with a broken line, thus allowing ‘B’ to turn left into the left lane as the outside ‘rainbow’ STOP Line should still force traffic from the right to stay outside that line. A second solution would be to remove//lower the hoarding to the right on Circular Rd. to give a view to ‘A’ who’s turning right. Erect a warning sign on approach road from (Fairgreen side) Circular Rd., like ‘Slow, Concealed Entrance’.

Erect two STOP signs at Bridge St. exit. Or, have a ‘No Right Turn’ off Bridge St. into Circular Rd..

The very high standard of driving that a learner must achieve in order to pass the modern driving test is in stark contrast to the standard exhibited by town engineers (Roads Section).

Learner drivers ask (i) How a Yield sign can be followed by a STOP line. Which are they to obey?

(ii) How come so many other drivers ignore Hatched Areas, yet they will fail their test should they encroach? (iii) How are they to know which direction to take when there are no signs to tell.

One student adeptly described the signage in Navan as akin to the ancient milestones which were read by pedestrians or horsemen.

I have a few questions for the roads engineers responsible for the likes of Navan’s ‘Amen Corner’. Do you not have a duty of care to motorists who must comply with your drawings? Of late, a banker and a chief fire officer have been arrested for matters related to their negligence and alleged criminal offences. The days of allowing STOP signs etc. to be twisted around by some dopey yob and left so twisted for weeks or months by Co. Co. authorities has passed. Responsibility has taken on a new meaning, thankfully. Marie Antoinnette  reputedly said ‘Let them eat cake.’ The people of France replied swiftly, they had had enough cake.

In the light of those road sign anomalies in Navan, I wonder if the place is at all suitable for the Driving Test. I suggest that consideration be given to changing the centre to Trim which has the highest standards of road signage and all else that’s required for such an undertaking.

THOUSANDS of learner drivers have been caught driving without L-plates or unaccompanied by a qualified driver.

Almost 14,000 ‘L’ drivers have been summonsed for driving without L-plates or a qualified driver since the new laws were introduced in July 2008.

The Irish Independent has learned that many of these drivers have been hit with minimum fines of €1,000 for dangerous driving, driving unaccompanied or having wasted the “second chance” they were given.

As part of their campaign, gardai have mounted “Operation Permit” to target learners driving unaccompanied to secondary school. It has been credited with leading to a large reduction in this activity.

The head of the Garda Traffic Corps, Assistant Commissioner Kevin Ludlow, said there was a “real purpose” to the clampdown, adding that inexperience and levels of competency directly lead to fatal accidents and serious injuries.

Although statistics on the number of ‘L’ drivers convicted were not available from the courts service, it is understood that it is easier to prosecute the two offences than more hotly contested ones such as drink-driving.

“Either they are driving accompanied or not, and either the accompanied driver is qualified or not,” said Asst Comm Ludlow.

Latest figures from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) show that learner drivers were responsible for nearly one in five fatal crashes in 2008 — the latest period for which such detailed statistics are available. They accounted for 18 out of 103 road deaths attributable to driver error.

Enforcement

“Local gardai would have the discretion to caution individuals known to them and can escalate to one of the options of enforcement should the offender continue to drive unaccompanied,” said Asst Comm Ludlow.

“Driving on motorways and driving between nought to six months (on a learner permit) are certainly a no-no from our perspective.”

A breakdown of the figures show there has been a substantial push in enforcement compared with the period before the introduction of the laws, when Transport Minister Noel Dempsey said gardai would adopt a “common sense approach”.

There were 2,807 drivers charged with driving unaccompanied in the 18-month period to July 2008 — an average of 155 per month. But since the new laws came into force on July 1 2008, 7,128 ‘L’ drivers were charged with driving unaccompanied– an average of 339.

An additional 3,160 drivers were charged with driving without ‘L’ plates in the 18-month period up to July 1 2008 — an average of 175 per month. But this number has more than doubled since: 6,816 learner drivers were charged

The RSA said long waiting times for driving tests were no longer an excuse to break the law as they had dropped to an average of 10 weeks.

Learner drivers accounted for 13pc of all drivers killed on the roads in 2008 — 17 out of 125 driver fatalities. And around 32 learner drivers were injured in serious crashes

The Public Against Road Carnage group want the gardai to prevent learner drivers from driving unaccompanied.

Spokeswoman Susan Gray said she had been contacted by a mother who had lost her daughter in a road crash.

“Her daughter was a learner driver who had no driving lessons, no L-plates and was driving alone. The gardai stopped her twice before she died but didn’t prosecute her for any of these offences,” she said.

Source

The Christmas rush was on last year when a young man phoned me for a few driving lessons. Appointment made, I met him and he advises that his driving test was one week hence, it being his first. Fine, “So you must be well prepared, have you already had some lessons?”, I enquire. “No, I just picked up driving tips from my father and friends for the past two years. I know I wont pass the test this time and I suppose I’m as well admit that the reason I’m doing it at all is to renew my Permit,” he said.

I sat into this youth’s car and after the usual preliminaries, he took off, like a kangaroo, without signalling, let alone checking the ‘blindspot’. “Enough!” I called out. We returned and continued the lesson in my dual controlled car. I enquired if he had driven on his own. “Sometimes”, he replied, “a few times a week, don’t they all do it.”

Some have a natural talent but this young man would not acquire the skills easily. No harm in that, he’s not alone, the harm lies in the Road Safety Authority regulations. Those regulations were drawn up in 2006 after much research and decades of neglect. It was incorporated into the Road Safety Plan to 2012 to substantially cut road deaths – to 252.

Significantly that has already been achieved and must be worked on to further reduce road deaths, like the erection of more speed cameras and a Leaving Certificate programme involving the training of our youth in Road Safety appreciation and driving skills.

But there are other factors which contribute in no small way to that early achievement of the 2012 plan, like the emigration of c.100,000 people in recent times, or the unemployment rate of 13.5% and the reduction of some 12% in tourist numbers visiting Ireland. All that reduces traffic volume on our roads, coupled with motorway/dual carriageway development.

I’ve pointed out before that in a EU country like Portugal where wages are only a ¼ of those in Ireland, (though that may be levelling out!) the holder of the Learner Permit (or equivalent) cannot drive on a public road unless with a driving instructor and must take 32 compulsory driving lessons before sitting a driving test.

The RSA will state that the holder of an (Irish) Learner Permit must legally be accompanied by a qualified driver. That’s balderdash- the great flaw is that the beginner may take a car onto any road while not having acquired the necessary skills to cope with the multiple tasks involved in safe driving. I demand to know what power has a person in the passenger seat to correct/assist a learner driver when even a small problem arises, let alone an emergency. Just imagine that young lad or lass, their heart pumping, and they have to simply overtake a cyclist: wet road, car close behind, approaching bend, continuous white line. A nightmare. What then of an emergency? Does Daddy have one hand on the steering wheel, the other on the handbrake while shouting “ I told you brake, not accelerate, you little bag of soot!”

It may be of help for the learner to be accompanied by a qualified driver, but there are many who chance going it alone. The seasoned driver may be trusted, but what of the rookie? He’s tantamount to a child with a loaded shotgun.

I’m informed that compulsory lessons are imminent, that it will be 12 or 15 that’ll be required. The sooner the better for all. Last year there was talk, too, of the Graduated Driving Licence being introduced in 2010, but there’s no sign of it yet which is a pity as the research has been done and it will only cost a little more for administration purposes.

And so my Christmas student of ’09 underwent two driving lessons with me. A further 8 or 10 would be required but he played the system and won! Well, did he? He succeeded in getting in and out of the gates of the test centre and returning in jig time because the tester survives on a 6^th sense. He received a blue certificate of incompetency as expected but drove home, alone. Now, he could get a licence for another year. That is not beating the system, rather it’s the system letting us down. What’s another year with a wink and a nod, for good auld Ireland didn’t go away!