Road carnage this week (every week)

[DaveG]

Ah sure there is no clear answer. In my instance I had a 112 bhp scirocco when I was young and drove it flat out to keep up the speed, later with higher powered cars I just squirted when it was safe.

[dean-e36]

I agree with you that 300+ is too much power for someone with less than 2 years on the road but to be 24 restricted to 100HP our opinions differ there , end of the day it's down to the individual to have cop on and drive safely regardless of age

[DaveG]

I also think a bit of track time for young lads to find the limits of there cars is also a good thing. It's also a good outlet and a chance to push the cars in a safe environment.

[Gar]

Learning how to react when the car loses control would be a great thing they should also add motorway driving to the test

Anyway nice healthy debate good to see a difference of opinions on threads it gets people talking

[Leins]

Better road signage & surfaces, plus more driver training & education, is a good point to start. What people of all ages and genders are doing out there on Irish roads is shocking. And the strange thing is that I would say we have a far lower average speed of driving than any other European country I've been to, and yet that's the current fixation in Ireland

[FunkySeeFunkyDoo]

Doesn't matter how safe any young driver says he/she is, the statistics are still there and can't really be argued with. For every one young driver who takes every move on the road with caution there are probably 20 out there taking major risks and in a lot of cases are surrounded by their mates who are also at risk.

I've never been in an accident(except one at like 5mph and only damaged a small tree) and I've been driving since I was 19, touch wood that doesn't change but many I knew when i was a young driver wrecked cars by being eejits on the road and what that says to me is that over all we needed to be better drivers.

Advanced driver training is the way to go, the current driving test isn't cutting it i don't think it ever has really.

[dean-e36]

And how do you feel about The generation that got "free" licences ? Never had to sit a test

[Venom]

So a few things

Had a tap myself at the weekend. Arse went out and the front into a pillar. Nothing I could do. Slippery surface etc, no such thing as an accident though as I was driving I was in control. So it's my error. I am just a shade over 31 (still got it too :P) and I have a full license yet any of the lessons I did never demonstrated how I could have pulled the car out of this and saved it. I was only lucky in the sense that it was at low speed and I wasn't injured.

Lessons should include how to avoid or save yourself in situations like the above as farting about at 30 mph in a micra on the test day around town is not being realistic and IS costing lives. Another example is with an L plate you cannot drive on a motorway so you cannot and will not be shown (in my experience) just that, how to behave when on one. Yet pass your test and you are free to roam the country on these roads, these faster, busier and more confusing roads. Is that right?

The point was raised that signage and road surfaces should be better. I agree on this point. I don't think that this will be implemented though as there are far better places to spend that money like Gay Byrne and tv adverts for how to use and drive on a motorway.....oh wait!

In regards to limiting, same as motorbikes, BHP to a certain age bracket? Lads we are all old, wise and wrinkley enough to know this is horseshit as engine swaps are common place and systems in this country are abused and not regulated correctly. Personally, I have done some severe damage in a tap at low speeds. As said regardless of BHP, cars will get up to speed and carry momentum and inflict damage. Also if you restrict engine capacity to an age bracket, what happens after they pass that age. Go from 75bhp to 300 bhp? Are they any more competent because they have been schooled in farting about town in a micra? Nope, they're in a wall because they have not the skills or experience to cope with power of that scale.

The fundamentals are the issue here IMO

Driving culture in Ireland is only attempting to join the present day

Our roads..well you're on them everyday...need I say more!

The powers that be are being seen to be doing something proactive these days, but it's lip service as I feel the funds are not there to match the intent.

Currently rules of the road are not being enforced enough and while punitive are not having the desired effect.

Other approaches need to be adopted. Futile? What's one life worth?

Above all else it's you and I and our approach we take is the key element here. If we all take it upon ourselves to be better then you encourage a culture and promote change.