Garda Blitz on "L" Drivers

_Kaiser_

Steve_o wrote: »

Really? I just got my full licence last month, and I was gonna be the "licenced driver" for my sister in her car while she waits for the test....oh dear, thats a ridiculous law. How are they gonna enforce this though, I heard that 1/6 of irish drivers are 'L' drivers.

It'll be enforced the same way the existing laws are. There'll be a big push in the first few weeks and then the budgets will run out and everything will be back to "normal" :rolleyes:

Steve_o

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

It'll be enforced the same way the existing laws are. There'll be a big push in the first few weeks and then the budgets will run out and everything will be back to "normal" :rolleyes:

Yea your probably right alright!! Its like an episode of the simpsons, its wacky for a while, and then everyting returns to normal....

kmart6

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

It'll be enforced the same way the existing laws are. There'll be a big push in the first few weeks and then the budgets will run out and everything will be back to "normal" :rolleyes:

How would budgets run out?! Gardai checkpoints are part of they're job,doesn't cost more to do a blitz!

Spud83

Yes there will be a big blitz at the start or at least thats what I hope. But the new laws coming in and the continued drop in wait times means it will prob spell the end of the gardai looking the other way if they do pull you or you do get stopped at a checkpoint.

keen

kmart6 wrote: »

How would budgets run out?! Gardai checkpoints are part of they're job,doesn't cost more to do a blitz!

You need more members to do a blitz, so I presume there's a fair bit of over time going which costs money.

TwoShedsJackson

It's hilarious hearing and seeing people say 'ah sure they won't enforce that bit of the law that applies to me anyway so I'm grand. Amn't I?? Please, reinforce my illegal behaviour and make me feel all better'.

snickerpuss

I find it funny that the gardaí make an announcement to tell us all that this week the law will actually be enforced. Could you imagine this in any other country? Isn't the law in force all the time?
Ah, Ireland.

Steve

snickerpuss wrote: »

I find it funny that the gardaí make an announcement to tell us all that this week the law will actually be enforced. Could you imagine this in any other country? Isn't the law in force all the time?
Ah, Ireland.

+1 to that.

And the governments answer:
"lets bring in new laws to rape the motorists, the existing ones don't seem to work"

curehead

i removed my L plates as to not be detected by gardai until my test
which i have in two weeks time
it worked there was a garda checkpoint and they waved on all cars without them and pulled over a girl behind me with one lol

justbringit89

does anyone know if The Learner Drivers Will be fined In this Crackdown For Unaccompanied Driving??? or is it just having the plates up, tax up 2 date etc.

menoscemo

Rb wrote: »

I'm on my 2nd provisional and am a better driver than the majority of idiots I encounter on the roads, yet I'm quite happy to see the laws on this be tightened up. There's far too many 17-21 year olds going around on their first provisional in the cars by themselves, or with their mates distracting them, trying to show off etc. I'll be glad to see them being pulled up on it.

I am shocked. I have read several driving threads recently where you have been criticsing anyone going even 1km/h over the speed limit beacuse it is against the law.
You specifically mentioned that you stick to 60 on parts of the M50 that are under roadworks. Did you not realise that L-drivers are not allowed on motorways? You have been breaking the law and are therefore a hypocrite.

People should not be taking advice on driving from someone who hasn't passed his/her test.

Sparky

Have to agree that there are too many youn'uns aged 17-22 on the road just after getting a car and have little driving experience. Having witnessed the amount of simple learning curve mistakes made while on their own is unreal. Its the very time an accident happens over other drivers losing patience with them in front.
Watching a car with 3 young girls jump the clutch at a turn today was one of many examples

Toto Wolfcastle

A car (L-plates) with 3 young girls (around 18 I suppose) turned right onto a main road today and nearly crashed into me. I was coming from the right and actually driving slowly as I was approaching a roundabout. Good thing too as I was able to brake just in time. Her turn onto the road was messy and jumpy.

I'm not going to say all young drivers are bad drivers. I'm only 22 myself and while I'm not perfect (no one is) I have a full licence and drive as safely as I can. But a lot of young people just don't care. Hopefully these will be the first people to be pulled over.

Abi

menoscemo wrote: »

People should not be taking advice on driving from someone who hasn't passed his/her test.

I've seen FL drivers fuck up majorly on roads. They seem to be allergic to their own indicator controls also. Should one take advice off them?

Why dont we take out a massive brush and big can of tar and slather it all over the L-drivers here?


Theres a desperate case of FL snobbery going on here, its pretty sad actually. And, it certainly doesnt help those with on-coming tests.


FL's you were once L-Drivers yourselves. Both can be shit drivers, no matter what the fuck your licence says.

kowloon

Let operation easy prosecutions to get up the quota commence!

Abi

Lol

Ghost Train

yeah I'm sure a good few L drivers let the L plates fall off the car window today, I know one took them down... which I think is pretty dodgy... would be nice to know exactly what the guardi will do when they stop L drivers on their own now... also heard L driver arn't insured for motorway driving? is that 100% true. The irish system really need this update, glad to see its finally happening

Chaos_Path

Some people`s attitudes on here really sicken me. you were a learner driver once.

I cant afford a 6 euro taxi twice a day, and i havent another way to work, or to college.I realise this has all been said before and im sure i`ll get flamed for this but i cant understand (or stand) peoples holier than thou attitudes.

Yes there was uproar in November, and there will be more this time too. 2 weeks?Absolute nonsense.i`m more than ready to pass my test now.

I`ve had my first provisional for just under a year, and am waiting for a test date.i`m a responsible and competent driver, and am just as good as, if not better than some idiots out there on the roads.i cant for the life of me see why Gardai are "clamping down" on learner drivers to be honest, in most cases theyre more responsble than most full license holders.
ive nearly been run off the road several times in the past month by some brainless young fella in a golf or a twincam who dosent know when to brake. more often than not they were speeding.
the amount of times ive seen some small woman in a huge suv on the phone going around a roundabout (it happens) is sickening.THEY would be the cause of an accident.

clamp down on speeding, clamp down on using a mobile when driving , young fellas in suped up starlets racing arount town,clamp down on drink driving clamp down on people with crap haircuts but to clamp down on learner drivers is a flippin joke.

my l-plates might fall off on tuesday morning.

Eric Cartman

keen wrote: »

Same here, I have a feeling it's all talk.

They say the reason that things like this aren't enforced all the time is due to lack of resources, so how do they magic extra resources for six days?

they were on the longmile road on wednesday, pulling over for everything from scumbag boy racer cars to seatbelts, i didnt get stopped though 18 year olds in new SUV's for the win ,,

also keep those waster Learner drivers off the road, scum of the earth, but mildly less scummy than women drivers (protip for the ladies, walkinstown roundabout , use your f***in mirrors !!!)

menoscemo

Abigayle wrote: »

I've seen FL drivers fuck up majorly on roads. They seem to be allergic to their own indicator controls also. Should one take advice off them?

Why dont we take out a massive brush and big can of tar and slather it all over the L-drivers here?


Theres a desperate case of FL snobbery going on here, its pretty sad actually. And, it certainly doesnt help those with on-coming tests.


FL's you were once L-Drivers yourselves. Both can be shit drivers, no matter what the fuck your licence says.

Yes FL drivers were learners once, indeed some may never have even passed the test and instead got the 'amnesty'. I can only speak for myself, I was brought up in the north where we cannot drive a car unaccompanied until we pass our test.
Allowing L-drivers to drive about unaccompanied is anarchic. What is the point of having a test at all?
This country is plagued with bad driving, getting L-divers off the road is only one part of the problem but it is a start and something that is badly needed.

menoscemo

eolhc wrote: »

also heard L driver arn't insured for motorway driving? is that 100% true.

Next time going on a motorway, have a look at the sign as you enter.
No LDrivers
No Bicycles
No Tractors
Etc
Etc

Abi

menoscemo wrote: »

This country is plagued with bad driving, getting L-divers off the road is only one part of the problem but it is a start and something that is badly needed.

It may certainly sift through the shit, I'd be inclined to agree. Im simply saying, I'd like to see some of our countries FL drivers re-sit their test. From what I've seen, they must have been giving out pass-slips with bags of Tayto. There'd be some sifting through shit there also. Cuts both ways.

Ghost Train

menoscemo wrote: »

Next time going on a motorway, have a look at the sign as you enter.
No LDrivers
No Bicycles
No Tractors
Etc
Etc

i know what the sign says, and i'm long past being an L driver, i'm just curious to know are you basically driving uninsured by being an L driver on a motorway

greenfly

greenfly wrote: »

Just wondering what ye all thought about this.

Good! I hope the stop the dipstick ("L" plate no passinger) I got stuck behind on the M50 today, he was doing 70kmh in the middle lane, forcing traffic to go either side of him and refusing to go into lane one. :mad:
It's time learners only used the roads for learning (while under instruction) and not driving here there & everywhere until they pass the test!

menoscemo

eolhc wrote: »

i know what the sign says, and i'm long past being an L driver, i'm just curious to know are you basically driving uninsured by being an L driver on a motorway

I guess so. Technically they are uninsured if not accompaied too...

irlmarc

irlmarc wrote: »

I mean look at the UK where some of the cars in urban centers have equipment that will scann passing cars licence plates and warn of no tax and insurance and can check these details. There are no such systems here all someone has to say is its in the post and its all gravy!

Most towns now have fixed cameras on the approach roads that scan numberplates, copper sitting on the side of the road a couple of hundred metres up is alerted and bingo!.
My wife's car was nicked a few years ago and the police tracked it around the town before stopping it (dipsticks went past the same camera three times).

Steve

menoscemo wrote: »

I guess so. Technically they are uninsured if not accompaied too...

AFAIK, they are 'minimum insured'. In an accident the insurance company has to pay out on a 3rd party claim. They will not pay any damages to the insured and will most likely sue them for breach of contract.

The risk is, if it happens, no insurance company will ever cover them again.

Steve

Deleted User wrote: »

Good! I hope the stop the dipstick ("L" plate no passinger) I got stuck behind on the M50 today, he was doing 70kmh in the middle lane, forcing traffic to go either side of him and refusing to go into lane one. :mad:
It's time learners only used the roads for learning (while under instruction) and not driving here there & everywhere until they pass the test!

They clearly hadn't actually done much 'learning' driving like that.

"L" = lunatic driver FTW.

Capt'n Midnight

token56 wrote: »

With regards the learner drivers thing. The thing that really pi**es me off is that the accompaning driver must have their full license for over 2 years. Now they are telling us that not all ful license holders are equal, this part of the law is ridiculous. In saying this I can't see them been very strict on this part. At least I hope not.

Oh FFS quite whinging
It's 3 years up north and then after you pass your test you'd have to display R plates and avoid motorways and if you get a couple of pealty points, say for travelling at 55mph you loose your R status and be an L driver again.

People up there are Irish too , now that we've gote better roads only difference is the better enforcement and driver testing.

When I passed my test un the UK in 1978 I suddenly became very popular within my peer group, as a chauffeur and passinger/instructor (no two year rule then).
It was a pain in the arse, as my "pupil" just ignored my "advice" and continued doing things wrong, I called it a day when he refused to keep a safe distance behind the car in front - then rear ended it!

menoscemo

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Oh FFS quite whinging
It's 3 years up north and then after you pass your test you'd have to display R plates and avoid motorways and if you get a couple of pealty points, say for travelling at 55mph you loose your R status and be an L driver again.

People up there are Irish too , now that we've gote better roads only difference is the better enforcement and driver testing.

we are not allowed to drive over 45mph as R drivers and can also lose our license altogether for not dispalying r-plates.
In Spain you cannot even drive with an accompanied driver. You must take lessons with an instructor until you pass your test

JP Liz

How many Learner Permit and Provisional Licence holders are currently in the Republic of Ireland????????

I agree that alot of young people drive wreckless and cause accidents but what about the oldies they are just as bad

Would it be better if the age for driving was raised to maybe 21??????

Pythia

I'm on my second provisional now but I've been driving around locally a lot on my first provisional. I drove on my own and found it was how I built up confidence and experience. I also have weekly lessons. I also had ten official lessons and lots of informal lessons with my bf before going out on my own.

I don't really care it's illegal as it's been such a help for me.

thecaptain

They are just getting people ready for the police state.

Mossy Monk

JP Liz wrote: »

I agree that alot of young people drive wreckless and cause accidents but what about the oldies they are just as bad

Would it be better if the age for driving was raised to maybe 21??????

Why 21? People of all ages drive like wreckless arseholes.

taidghbaby

JP Liz wrote: »

How many Learner Permit and Provisional Licence holders are currently in the Republic of Ireland????????

I agree that alot of young people drive wreckless and cause accidents but what about the oldies they are just as bad

Would it be better if the age for driving was raised to maybe 21??????

eh i was behind an 80 year old woman coming onto the m50 the other day and instead of using the filter lane to join she stopped and drove through the cones that were there for the roadworks....lethal!!!

you have have bad drivers at all ages!

Sully

I saw one checkpoint yesterday afternoon in Tramore. Just checking tax and insurance. Was out that night, saw the usual car and van driving around the city but nothing special.

Im used to it at this stage, they always claim there will be a blitz but reality is - there never is.

Steve

taidghbaby wrote: »

eh i was behind an 80 year old woman coming onto the m50 the other day .......

How'd ya know she was 80? Did ya get her phone number as well?:D

smemon

The blitz should be focused on

• failure to use lights & indicators correctly
• damaged / not working lights
• hard acceleration in urban areas
• tailgating
• people who turn out on to junctions and use hardshoulders to build up speed and join traffic

Red Alert

Have to say I removed them too, but then I passed my test. I'd love some serious enforcement on roundabouts. A lot of people don't get it: even if you're coming off the 'major' road, you've still to give way to traffic on the roundabout. And people need to be pulled over for failing to indicate correctly.

Steve

Red Alert wrote: »

Have to say I removed them too, but then I passed my test. I'd love some serious enforcement on roundabouts. A lot of people don't get it: even if you're coming off the 'major' road, you've still to give way to traffic on the roundabout. And people need to be pulled over for failing to indicate correctly.

Roundabouts are a grey area, the only mention they get in the RTA is that you should turn left to enter them. Apart from that, there is no actual law governing their use so in effect there is nothing to enforce (except maybe dangerous driving).
Same with indicators, scant legislation as well.

taidghbaby

stevec wrote: »

How'd ya know she was 80? Did ya get her phone number as well?:D

it was your ma and everyone has her number!!

(sorry but i'm too hungover to think of anythin else)

Tigger

stevec wrote: »

Roundabouts are a grey area, the only mention they get in the RTA is that you should turn left to enter them. Apart from that, there is no actual law governing their use so in effect there is nothing to enforce (except maybe dangerous driving).
Same with indicators, scant legislation as well.

http://www.rotr.ie/rules-for-driving/junctions-roundabouts/roundabouts.html

Steve

Tigger wrote: »

http://www.rotr.ie/rules-for-driving/junctions-roundabouts/roundabouts.html

That's a guideline, it has no basis in legislation.

The current law covering rules at roundabouts is here

S.I. No. 182/1997:
ROAD TRAFFIC (TRAFFIC AND PARKING) REGULATIONS, 1997

Roundabouts
15. When entering a roundabout, a driver shall turn to the left.

Believe me, there is nothing else!
Because of this, roundabouts are a very dodgy place to have crash - blame is normally apportioned 50/50.
This is why Guards can't pull you for incorrect use of a roundabout.

If anyone can correct me on this, I'll gladly buy them a pint!

Steve

taidghbaby wrote: »

(sorry but i'm too hungover to think of anythin else)

In fairness, it was a well placed yore ma.:D

taidghbaby

stevec wrote: »

In fairness, it was a well placed youre ma.:D

my first on here......i'm a virgin no more:D

Guy:Incognito

stevec wrote: »

That's a guideline, it has no basis in legislation.

The current law covering rules at roundabouts is here



Believe me, there is nothing else!
Because of this, roundabouts are a very dodgy place to have crash - blame is normally apportioned 50/50.
This is why Guards can't pull you for incorrect use of a roundabout.

If anyone can correct me on this, I'll gladly buy them a pint!

The yield signs are usually a clue that you cant just drive straight out on to them when it suits you.

Steve

Stekelly wrote: »

The yield signs are usually a clue that you cant just drive straight out on to them when it suits you.

meh.

maybe that's why I keep crashing:rolleyes:

Kiltinator

Most of us like to think we're good drivers, good in bed and have a sense of humour, but none of those are the case for the majority. We all have moments of crap driving. I passed my test almost twenty years ago and have also trained in advanced security driving skills and I'm still not 100%. Not even close.

From what I've seen bad driving is not confined to learners and young people. I live in North County Dublin and the stereotypical boy racers are by no means the worst drivers on the road. Nor are those with L-plates.

Of course people should have taken their test but the government's let it slide for so long that it's no wonder some people have taken the attitude they have. Doesn't excuse it, but I can understand it.

No question there needs to be more education (roundabouts are a mystery to some people), but the main thing we all need to exercise is good visual awareness and a bit of patience.

kowloon

All this muck is why I've never bothered to get a car.
I have a full unrestricted motorcycle license whch I've been driving on for years, yet, to drive any other vehicle I need to sit the theory test and maybe a year of having to get someone with a full license in the car with me.
Not worth the effort.
Given the above it irritates me that car licence holders are given a moped licence without having to do a moped test or any proficiency training whatsoever, despite mopeds, with the exception of jet powered unicyles and other vehicles of the future, being the most dangerous vehicles to drive.
Our system was devised by idiots.