The Irish could always build roads, but were challenged historically in the separation of bureaucracy & backhanders. It remains to be seen in the flurry to build a 20th century road network in the 7 years of the 21st, how many tribunals will be required to ascertain who bribed who; the matter will certainly be complicated by all the European tenderers now involved as well. Still, at least Turkey’s accession to the EU should help, eh Bertie? The Anglo-Celt Aug 05.

• There are no minimum speeds on our national routes. A huge factor in all this carnage has to be dangerous overtaking forced upon otherwise reasonably sane drivers.

• Our nearest neighbour (UK) has the safest roads in the EU (proper 6-lane motorways), yet we willfully refuse to leverage their experience; actually our experience, as we built them for the Brits. Call Alanis Morissette, I have another verse for her.

• Our best roads are glorified dual-carriageways that have motorway rules applied to them, including the 120 kph speed limit. Our widest road is the N7, in Dublin / Kildare, which is three lanes each way. It is, however, classified as a dual-carriageway, & therefore has a speed limit of only 100 kph.

Signage:

• The Irish language has its uses: there are still some Father Jack types that reminisce fondly about declension, syntax & CBS boys cowering in fear. However, the Welsh have proved the dual signage is expensive & useless; believe me, if your national identity is that weak, incomprehensible signs in a dead language are not going to help. RTE News Dec 04 ; in EU - Finfacts April 06

• Entire towns have been bypassed by omission: imagine a tourist trying to get from Kildare town to Bray, Wicklow; perhaps the NRA are on commission from Dundrum Shopping Centre, because that is where they will end up. Irish Times March 07

• Don’t get too cocky in the unlikely event you do see a sign for the place you actually want to go; if you are foolish enough to follow it, you will never see another on that route; I am not even referring to minor destinations either – Cork anyone? Irish Independent April 98

• Get sat nav: who are you going to believe, the NRA or a professional organisation?

Uppers wearing off?

• Feeling tired?
• Need caffeine?
• Irish radio stations so mind-crushingly dull that your ears are actually bleeding?
• Can’t open the window for the cyclone of rain that is blasting the paint off of your Japanese car?

Then pull over to one of the many modern Service Stations / Restaurants placed along…Oh wait, they didn’t build any. In fact, now that I think of it, they actively blocked them originally, citing safety reasons. Hmmmm.

Finfacts Jan 07: Will we live to see them?

Until then, to rest we have to drive into the very towns that we have waited for so long to be bypassed. Fuckwits...



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