What’s your most controversial opinion? **Read OP** **Mod Note in Post #3372**

I doubt men take much notice of painted toenails and the stupid eyebrows they put on themselves now.

The number of road deaths in Ireland is not really that extraordinary.

Yes of course every death is sad and a terrible tragedy for those left behind, so I'm not trivialising it.

But I think we have to take the media headlines like "15% increase in road deaths" with a little pinch of salt.

The population is exploding, there's far more cars on the roads every year, more journeys, people working longer hours, longer commutes, etc. These are all factors, so you'd expect more crashes when there's more cars out there to be involved in accidents.

2023 had 184 deaths. This is the highest since 2016, which had 185. Only 7 years back. And don't forget we regularly had figures in the 600s and 500s throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

We also have less than the European average. We ain't going to eradicate all road deaths, and we of course want as few as possible, but perhaps a number in the high 100s is always going to be the norm?

RSA says there'll be none by 2050. Loads of speed cameras on big national roads and motorways, double points and fines on bank holidays should sort that right out. Reality and common sense be damned.

One of the only country in the world where a death on the roads makes the national news....

It's BS.

I disagree. It's road design, distraction and peoples stupidity that's the issue in most cases. Even the best systems will only ever be aids in peoples driving and wont be allowed to make decisions.

If this is controversial it shouldn't be:

Na, 184 deaths cannot be considered good, theirs still too many deaths in their down to carelessness

Of course we try to lower the figures, but there is going to be a figure which will be hard to get down below.

We aren't at 600 any more because cars are much safer than in the 70s and 80s. But there isn't much more that can be done to cars now to save humans who crash them. Bar maybe the cars driving themselves?

Also, I do believe we have a quantity of suicides in those stats. Can't stop those.

True, the one vehicle collisions for no apparent reason.

There is a lot of careless driving, people think they and their steel cage are invulnerable in any situation. Slam it into something fast enough and any car will crumple like a Coke can. They will get away with taking only so many chances but someday their number will come up.

Frankly, Irish people are great drivers considering we have narrow roads with 80/100km speed limits where cars come within a few feet of each other passing at that speed.

It's a very frightening driving experience for most foreigners and it's no wonder we need to put a bottle of holy water in the glove box.

Speaking of autism, it must be very easy to get diagnosed as an adult. All you have to do is read up on it and answer a few questions for the doctor. Deeply suspicious when I hear about well known people coming out saying they've been diagnosed with it.

On the whole fat acceptance thing, if you're in the 40's regarding your BMI, you're most likely obese. If you're in the 50's, you are.

So if you are, then you should be made pay full whack for every medical issue you have. One of the biggest reasons we see such a stain on the health service is the national expanding waistline, and the associated health problems that it causes.

Pretty much everything can be made worse via obesity. And seeing as obesity (in the vast majority of cases, bar a few medical ones) comes down mainly to lifestyle choices, it shouldn't be up to the tax-payer to be bled dry because you'd rather eat a share bag of cheesy puffs than go for a walk.

You're too fat? Then pay full whack until you lose it, tubby.

Products don't cause obesity, only excessive consumption. If you overeat (more calories in than out) healthy foods, you will still gain weight.

Unfortunately I don't have cat faeces handy so I need to give him doggo treats.

Parents of young children are the most self-centered, narcissistic, rude and blinkered people I have met.

I do not think your child running around a supermarket pulling food off the shelves is cute, control your brat!

Restaurants/bars are not creches.. don't bring your brat.

No, your child does not have ADHD or whatever version you have self diagnosed it with, it is just a little sh!t due to bad parenting.