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DRIVING YOU MAD!
Driving in Ireland -- the stuff nightmares are made of, right?
Actually, it isn't nearly as bad as all that. It is scary at
first, yes, especially if you've never driven on the left before.
However, I have found that one quickly gets used to it. If you
can't, there are other options, such as an extensive and well-run
BUS
and TRAIN system.
There are a few things to keep in mind though. First, the roads
in Ireland are not what we're used to in the US. They aren't straight,
they aren't wide, and they aren't all paved. There are very few
highways in Europe that go AROUND cities and town -- they go right
through the center. This slows down cross-country travel considerably.
Also, the roads were typically made in antiquity, using trails
and then paths, so they go around things... like mountains, lakes,
sheep, etc. Very windy and twisty. The Romans never made it to
Ireland -- and it shows in the lack of straight roads!
Speaking of sheep, watch out for them! They tend to love the
grass that grows right there at the side of the road, for some
reason -- a mutton wish, I suppose!
When you rent a car in Ireland, you will be asked to purchase
CDW insurance (Collision Damage Waiver) in addition to any insurance
you have. Yes, this is a good idea...BUT if you pay for the rental
with some credit cards, that may already be covered. Check with
your card company (usually Platinum MC has it) and get it IN WRITING
to show the rental company. It's MUCH more expensive getting it
at the rental place. Many car insurance places don't cover out-of-country
rentals, and most don't cover in Ireland or Italy.
If you can get insurance with zero deductible, go for it -- damage
to side view mirrors and minor dings are VERY common, as the hedgerows
grow right up to the edge of the narrow road -- just as the truck
is barreling past you at 60 mph.
Once you have the car, check it out thoroughly, so you know if
any dings are already there, and so you know how to operate all
the parts. It took us 15 minutes once trying to figure out how
to get a car in reverse. We thought we'd have to spend the whole
vacation in the McDonald's parking lot!
If you've used mapquest
or AA
or Michelin to
figure driving times ... ignore them. Take the total mileage and
divide by 30 or 35 mph (if you're brave) to figure REAL driving
time. The roads wind and twist, and speed limits are rarely reached
by anyone but locals.
And now for a little humor:
I don't know who wrote it, but it appears most
recently on the Fodors chat forums:
A Guide to Driving in Ireland
1. Indicators will give away your next move. A confident
Irish driver avoids using them.
2. Under no circumstance should you maintain a safe distance
between you and the car in front of you, because somebody else
will fill in the space, putting you in an even more dangerous
situation.
3. The faster you drive through a red light, the less chance
you have of getting hit.
4. Never get in the way of an older car that needs extensive
bodywork, especially with WW, MO or WH plates. With no insurance,
the other operator probably has nothing to lose.
5. Braking is to be done as hard and late as possible to ensure
that your ABS kicks in, giving a vigorous foot massage as the
brake pedal violently pulsates. For those of you without ABS,
it's a chance to strengthen your leg muscles.
6. Never pass on the right when you can pass on the left. It's
a good way to prepare other drivers entering the motorway.
7. Speed limits are arbitrary figures, given only as a suggestion
and are not enforceable in Ireland during rush hour.
8. Always brake and rubberneck when you see an accident or even
someone changing a tyre. This is seen as a sign of respect for
the
victim.
9. Learn to swerve abruptly without signalling. Ireland is the
home of high-speed slalom driving thanks to the Department of
Public Works, which puts potholes in key locations to test drivers'
reflexes and keep them alert!
10. It is tradition in Ireland to honk your horn at cars in front
of you that do not move three milliseconds after the light turns
green.
11. To avoid injury in the event of a collision or rollover,
it is important to exit your vehicle through the windscreen right
away. Wearing your seat belt will only impede your hi-velocity
escape from danger.
12. Remember that the goal of every Irish driver is to get ahead
of the pack by whatever means necessary.
13. WARNING! Never come to a complete stop at a stop sign. No
one expects it and it will result in you being rear-ended
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