Danger ahead: slow driver won’t move over
This courtesy has been an Irish solution to an Irish problem and, frankly, is the only commonsense approach for slow and fast vehicles safely to negotiate the single-lane national road network.
Before it’s too late I wish to thank truckers and tractor drivers for their unfailing courtesy to car drivers. Their road sense often can be the difference between arriving at a destination safe and sane or two hours late, frustrated and full of rage.
The faster driver has been blamed for many accidents, but it is the slower driver who has been the cause of most of the near misses I’ve witnessed. The slow driver moves below the speed limit without the skill, confidence or courtesy to allow the mounting traffic to pass.
After a few miles in this situation, drivers at the rear of the convoy get impatient and start taking risks. We have all witnessed slow drivers who purposely thwart all efforts at being passed.
Why not penalise the inconsiderate driver and make the truckers’ road courtesy mandatory.
If Transport Minister Martin Cullen approves penalty points for illegal overtaking, we will all have to drive at the pace of the slowest drivers, whether it be 2km/h or 20km/h.
Rossa Ó Snodaigh
15 Emorville Ave
South Circular Road
Dublin 8
