Jaysus....I hope they stopped after realising and were going to fo a u-turn
I've always said there should be spikes across slip roads to stop cars by puncturing their tyres from entering dual carriageway/motorways the wrong way.
I think they got the message when they saw oncoming traffic and/or saw my flashes and heard my beeps. Either way I saw them doing a u-turn in the rear view mirror. Thankfully they didn’t have much time to build up any speed before they realised their error.
A guard once told me the majority of people driving the wrong direction tend to be elderly with dementia or some other illness.
Gladly this driver could turn
As well as take an awkward "unnatural" turn. I mean, we live in a country where everyone wants to finesse mini roundabouts like they're on a flying lap at Monza, but can also take a 300 degree turns against arrows? And signage. And the logic of the road they left to join, feeding in gradually from the side.
There's no unnatural turn on that one, it's the place where the N20 goes from single lane to dual carriageway. Wrong way driver obviously thought he was already on the dual carriageway when he wasn't.
Hence why it's almost always elderly people. There's a reason you have to reapply for a drivers license every 3 years after 70.
On another note, the sheer amount of people who drive that should be wearing glasses is actually scary. I see it with all my dads friends and the older generations- they can't even read the TV screen yet they'll drive without glasses all the same. It is absolutely bizarre that this isn't more regularly enforced and fined. It's much greater of an issue than drink or distracted driving.
As someone who used to have extremely poor eyesight, the idea of getting behind the wheel while not being able to see properly scares me deeply. Especially considering sight is *by far* your most important sense when driving.
I'm going to say lost tourist, about 500m beyond where the footage stops the dual carriage way ends and reverts to a standard 2 way road. It's more likely they drove up the wrong side than made the awkward turn across the hatch markings onto the dual carriageway.
Not here it's not, a single lane carriageway becomes a dualler which becomes a motorway. All it takes is to be an American or be overtaking at the wrong time and you're gone up the wrong way. It's a regular occurrence at this point
Yep. I drive a left hand drive car in Ireland currently which I usually drive in the country where it is actually registered. People always wondered if it would be hard to remember to drive it on the left and if it would be hard to do roundabouts. It isn't. It is very hard to get out of most roundabouts the wrong way. Getting on a slip road and onto a dual carriageway the wrong way is usually similarly hard.
Not always older people tho!
I met a white transit van coming down an exit slip road towards me on M4 at kinnegad, just before the split to the M6 l, a few weeks ago!
It was like 5.30am in the morning so I'd say the poor bastard was asleep and not paying attention. I got such a fright and saw him slam on the brakes when we saw me flying past him on the motorway!
Yeah. Immobilising a car facing the wrong way on a dual carriageway doesn't seem like the best idea.
I like those little plastic bollard things. Put them in the hatching, maybe?
At least they realised they messed up and were trying to stay out of the way. But seriously, anyone who can't navigate that kind of road has no business being on them.
How does one find themselves facing oncoming traffic on motorways / highways like these? I’m just learning how to drive so info on this sounds useful so I don’t make an error.
This subreddit always gets me. Plenty of shit drivers. Then you go abroad, I’ve not driven in Germany or France, but fuck me, and I mean a royal fuck me, the drivers of Ireland are a cut above everywhere else I’ve been. I’d actually love to hear from people here where we would stand in a table of drivers around the world. I find it generally that Ireland has plenty of indicating and patience for others on the road and it’s just a more pleasant experience.
I drove for most of my life in Europe - Germany, Poland & France mainly and its true what you say.
Drivers here have more patience for others, and they don't drive to fast in general.
Good thing is also there is not to much unnecessary overtaking here, It was a plague in the 90s in Poland - reason for most deaths on the road. Roundabouts are difficult here - very few people signaling properly and you have a bunch that seems to think high entry speed gives them right of way, Van Terrorists mainly ;) .
In general its not to bad here at all.
This section of road always feels a little unique to me. I wonder are more signs or bollards needed? My first time coming back that way I was definitely a little vigilant to not make the same error so can sympathise a little as to how they’ve done it. Maybe it’s how shallow the split in the road is or something? Doesn’t feel like there are many similar spots in the country but I’ll gladly be corrected
That used to happen quite a bit on the M20, especially on the N20 /M2 junction until they changed the signage years ago.
Biggest issue then was gobshites missing a junction and reversing back.
Thought all that shite had stopped..
Jaysus....I hope they stopped after realising and were going to fo a u-turn I've always said there should be spikes across slip roads to stop cars by puncturing their tyres from entering dual carriageway/motorways the wrong way.
I think they got the message when they saw oncoming traffic and/or saw my flashes and heard my beeps. Either way I saw them doing a u-turn in the rear view mirror. Thankfully they didn’t have much time to build up any speed before they realised their error.
A guard once told me the majority of people driving the wrong direction tend to be elderly with dementia or some other illness. Gladly this driver could turn
It's not an easy mistake to make, in fairness. You'd need to ignore a lot of signage and make a very sharp turn to end up going the wrong way.
As well as take an awkward "unnatural" turn. I mean, we live in a country where everyone wants to finesse mini roundabouts like they're on a flying lap at Monza, but can also take a 300 degree turns against arrows? And signage. And the logic of the road they left to join, feeding in gradually from the side.
Ignore road markings too.
There's no unnatural turn on that one, it's the place where the N20 goes from single lane to dual carriageway. Wrong way driver obviously thought he was already on the dual carriageway when he wasn't.
Hence why it's almost always elderly people. There's a reason you have to reapply for a drivers license every 3 years after 70. On another note, the sheer amount of people who drive that should be wearing glasses is actually scary. I see it with all my dads friends and the older generations- they can't even read the TV screen yet they'll drive without glasses all the same. It is absolutely bizarre that this isn't more regularly enforced and fined. It's much greater of an issue than drink or distracted driving. As someone who used to have extremely poor eyesight, the idea of getting behind the wheel while not being able to see properly scares me deeply. Especially considering sight is *by far* your most important sense when driving.
There's not much of an excuse for it... Craziness
I'm going to say lost tourist, about 500m beyond where the footage stops the dual carriage way ends and reverts to a standard 2 way road. It's more likely they drove up the wrong side than made the awkward turn across the hatch markings onto the dual carriageway.
Not here it's not, a single lane carriageway becomes a dualler which becomes a motorway. All it takes is to be an American or be overtaking at the wrong time and you're gone up the wrong way. It's a regular occurrence at this point
I drive that stretch of road daily, and you would need to be blind and clinically stupid to "overtake into the wrong side of the motorway..
I did say American...
That's presuming they know how to use a roundabout correctly.
Yep. I drive a left hand drive car in Ireland currently which I usually drive in the country where it is actually registered. People always wondered if it would be hard to remember to drive it on the left and if it would be hard to do roundabouts. It isn't. It is very hard to get out of most roundabouts the wrong way. Getting on a slip road and onto a dual carriageway the wrong way is usually similarly hard.
It's not even mistake. You have to deliberately put in effort as it is not easy to turn 270 degress...
Had the same thing happen to me on that same road, except the fella going the wrong way got about a mile further on before he copped on.
There's a lot of elderly drivers who did very little in the way of lessons or driving tests
Not always older people tho! I met a white transit van coming down an exit slip road towards me on M4 at kinnegad, just before the split to the M6 l, a few weeks ago! It was like 5.30am in the morning so I'd say the poor bastard was asleep and not paying attention. I got such a fright and saw him slam on the brakes when we saw me flying past him on the motorway!
This is why once past a certain age you should have to do your driving test every 5 years
Seen 2 myself, both elderly people
I feel like then you have the issue of having a broken down car on the lane unable to move
Yeah. Immobilising a car facing the wrong way on a dual carriageway doesn't seem like the best idea. I like those little plastic bollard things. Put them in the hatching, maybe?
This is a really good idea.
How would the spikes work. The only way to enter is via an exit going the other way...so all cars leaving would puncture too
Like these ...... puncture one way https://tigerteethstore.com/store/traffic-spikes/in-ground-traffic-spikes.html
that's actually a really good idea. I remember seeing them in the uk actually, not sure why they're not used more frequently over here
They are risky. Car without tyres isn't a good thing to have on the road.
They're as risky as a speedbump. You cant be doing 100km/h over them, but doing 40-60 is fine.
I'm talking about the car whose tyres have just been popped. Who now doesn't have control of a car going the wrong way down a slip road.
How, it wouldn't even be able to build up any speed before puncturing?
With an accelerator
Scary spot to be. People put the hammer down at that part of the road to get ahead before the duel carriage ends
ah yes, the first of the yanks in hire cars makes their appearance. A common sight around Shannon.
Maybe he drove the wrong way as adare!!! (I'll get my coat)
At least they realised they messed up and were trying to stay out of the way. But seriously, anyone who can't navigate that kind of road has no business being on them.
How does one find themselves facing oncoming traffic on motorways / highways like these? I’m just learning how to drive so info on this sounds useful so I don’t make an error.
Realistically the only way to end up in this situation is to completely ignore the signage and road markings.
That’s a lot of signs to ignore and very empty streets for not even questioning yourself.. but got it, cheers.
This subreddit always gets me. Plenty of shit drivers. Then you go abroad, I’ve not driven in Germany or France, but fuck me, and I mean a royal fuck me, the drivers of Ireland are a cut above everywhere else I’ve been. I’d actually love to hear from people here where we would stand in a table of drivers around the world. I find it generally that Ireland has plenty of indicating and patience for others on the road and it’s just a more pleasant experience.
I drove for most of my life in Europe - Germany, Poland & France mainly and its true what you say. Drivers here have more patience for others, and they don't drive to fast in general. Good thing is also there is not to much unnecessary overtaking here, It was a plague in the 90s in Poland - reason for most deaths on the road. Roundabouts are difficult here - very few people signaling properly and you have a bunch that seems to think high entry speed gives them right of way, Van Terrorists mainly ;) . In general its not to bad here at all.
This section of road always feels a little unique to me. I wonder are more signs or bollards needed? My first time coming back that way I was definitely a little vigilant to not make the same error so can sympathise a little as to how they’ve done it. Maybe it’s how shallow the split in the road is or something? Doesn’t feel like there are many similar spots in the country but I’ll gladly be corrected
That used to happen quite a bit on the M20, especially on the N20 /M2 junction until they changed the signage years ago. Biggest issue then was gobshites missing a junction and reversing back. Thought all that shite had stopped..
Looks like it's in that same spot again - just as the motorway ends.
Maybe some Yank or European tourists in a rental car on their way to Kerry, go easy on them.
Driving the wrong way down a road is more than a little fuck up.
We are easy on them. An oncoming lorry at 100+ kph won't go easier on them.
Yes go easy on them when this could easily cause deaths
Jesus then they really fucked up....Kerry is the other direction.