Driving in NI with Irish plate.

Das Reich

Hello, I have a question after a thing that happened last Sunday in Belfast.
Had been driving in Ireland for 12 years, never had a trouble with other drivers (only two fines for speeding last one in 2014), actually I am very gentle, polite and calm when driving.

Unfortunately I am living now not so far from the border and for the third time I went to Belfast for shopping, all the three times there was someone that horn at me (in ROI is unusual), but last time a man did followed me for few streets, showing me the finger and flashing his lights, then overtook me and said a word starting with B, he was alone but I not got off from my car because I was with wife.

After that I had to park in a pay parking because was affraid of the possibility of someone scratching my car.
The thing is that my car was not the only one with ROI plate that I saw that day. I am not sure if is because of the plate.
Should I avoid going there with car next time or was something isolated and unusual?

Fann Linn

I'd be a regular up there myself for the past decade and haven't witnessed anything or been a victim of anything along those lines.

I do tend to avoid the north in July but after that never a problem.

It may be just a random pr1ck that you could just as easily meet in Dublin, Cork or Galway.

Zenify

I am a professional driver and I am in the north regularly with Irish plates. I think the drivers up there a far more courteous than south of the border. That's my experience over the last few years anyway.

Das Reich

Fann Linn wrote: »

It may be just a random pr1ck that you could just as easily meet in Dublin, Cork or Galway.

Thanks I was thinking this was the case but not sure.

biko

I drive in NI with southern plates all the time, and never a bother. Park where I like.

Except one time when a car with a bunch of young adults drove past me as I was parking and shouted "free stater traitor" as they sped off.

It was hilarious

Grolschevik

You didn't mistake the speed limit signs for km/h, I suppose?

redcup342

Not unusual, just drive in Holland on German plates and it's the same, only take one clown to give a bad vibe

Also can be compounded with you easily being identifiable as not being local and taking up "their" parking spots.

jimgoose

Just roll down the window and bawl "See ye hi! Shut yer fuckan MOYTH!!!"

Marcusm

biko wrote: »

I drive in NI with southern plates all the time, and never a bother. Park where I like.

Except one time when a car with a bunch of young adults drove past me as I was parking and shouted "free stater traitor" as they sped off.

It was hilarious

I had “tiocfaidh ár lá” shouted at me in Dublin once when driving on U.K. plates; I suspect they couldn’t have spelt it if I challenged them.

OP, if driving in general commercial areas in Belfast, I would find this unusual. Might there be any aspect your driving that they took offence at?

fancy pigeon

jimgoose wrote: »

Just roll down the window and bawl "See ye hi! Shut yer fuckan MOYTH!!!"

"What about ye, go you up to that ah space or yil be talkin to the biys hai"

ION08

OP, did you obtain your licence / learn to drive in Germany? (just a hunch judging by your written English and your username)

I usually find UK/NI drivers are a lot more competent than "ROI" drivers and have less tolerance for the stupidity that you would regularly see on our roads here.

Irish drivers are definitely a lot more tolerant and less aggressive towards the many clueless idiots we share the roads with down here. ie. Sitting in the overtaking lane, not indicating correctly around roundabouts, not merging properly etc.

Might have been worth asking him what aspect of your driving he took issue with exactly?

Ferm001

Marcusm wrote: »

I had “tiocfaidh ár lá” shouted at me in Dublin once when driving on U.K. plates; I suspect they couldn’t have spelt it if I challenged them.

OP, if driving in general commercial areas in Belfast, I would find this unusual. Might there be any aspect your driving that they took offence at?

Reminds me of one time passing through quite a republican village along the border years ago and seeing "CHUCKY AT LA" plastered on the side of a bus shelter.

Drive all around the North in a southern reg car daily and never any problems.

Isambard

I've driven in NI several times and even wild camped in the campervan without giving it a second thought.