Another Accident with car full of teenagers

Q

QED

Registered User
Messages
222
It does not seem that the deaths of 16 people in 3 'accidents' with cars full of teenagers has changed the attitude of young drivers.
(Nov 09 to Aug 10: 4 Mayo/Galway Border, 8 Donegal, 4 Kerry)

From Breakingnews:- Seven teenagers have been hurt in a crash in Co Mayo this morning. The single-vehicle incident happened on a street in Foxford at about 4.40am this morning.
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/seven-teens-injured-in-car-crash-471397.html#ixzz0y4rrMzov​

While I don't believe that new laws are usually the best answer, I think that something has to be done to address the issue of these types of accidents. Shock ads and real deaths are not changing attitudes.​

What about only allowing a driver under 20 to carry 1 passenger?
This would not stop young people in rural areas who need to drive to play sports, go to work, socialise etc. but would I think, lead to more responsible driving and save many lives.​

It should be easy to police and the punishment could be a fine and maybe 6 penalty points.​
 
I think it it needs to start with driver education and training at secondary school level.
 
aristotle said:
I think it it needs to start with driver education and training at secondary school level.
Click to expand...

Driver education can only go so far. If you put a young male driver into a car with his peers the macho part of his brain will take over and safe driving will be the last thing on his mind.

I didn't start to drive until I was 26 and even then I'm surprised I ever lived to see my 30's.
 
QED said:
It does not seem that the deaths of 16 people in 3 'accidents' with cars full of teenagers has changed the attitude of young drivers.
(Nov 09 to Aug 10: 4 Mayo/Galway Border, 8 Donegal, 4 Kerry)

From Breakingnews:- Seven teenagers have been hurt in a crash in Co Mayo this morning. The single-vehicle incident happened on a street in Foxford at about 4.40am this morning.
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/seven-teens-injured-in-car-crash-471397.html#ixzz0y4rrMzov​

While I don't believe that new laws are usually the best answer, I think that something has to be done to address the issue of these types of accidents. Shock ads and real deaths are not changing attitudes.​

What about only allowing a driver under 20 to carry 1 passenger?
This would not stop young people in rural areas who need to drive to play sports, go to work, socialise etc. but would I think, lead to more responsible driving and save many lives.​


It should be easy to police and the punishment could be a fine and maybe 6 penalty points.​
Click to expand...


How about Garda resources in the Traffic Corps being removed from catching "fish in a barrel" type speed trap operations, you know the type, speed traps on safe motorways, fining tourists at College Green in Dublin when it becomes Bus only etc (I won't bore you with how many useless revenue raising, non-safety Garda actions I can relate, many I seen in my time as a commercial driver) the same resources could be used as in many other European countries to enforce safe driving on these minor roads that have appalling "accidents"

The real problem is the non enforcement of existing road traffic laws where they are obviously needed
 
werner said:
The real problem is the non enforcement of existing road traffic laws where they are obviously needed
Click to expand...

Thats not the root problem. For a start you cannot police every road, every corner, all of the time. You are not going to change the underlying behaviour that results in these types of accident with this approach.

The issue is one of driver attitudes\culture or whatever you want to call it.
 
aristotle said:
thats not the root problem. For a start you cannot police every road, every corner, all of the time. You are not going to change the underlying behaviour that results in these types of accident with this approach.

The issue is one of driver attitudes\culture or whatever you want to call it.
Click to expand...

+1
 
I for one have driven a lot (over 600 miles) over the weekend with not a check point or even the sight of a cop car. On mainly secondary roads. Which with the current cut lack of funds are in bad repair. And the amount of people I encountered on their mobile phones was shocking...(another issue I know)
Law's don't catch people, police do. So where are they?
 
Hi there,

I think too much is being put on the feet of Garda here, where are the parents in all this? What was a 15 yo (just 15 a week previous) doing out at that late at night? Who gave them the car? If they were at a house party why did they not stay overnight - or until the driver was safe to drive?

This crash, the crash in Donegal, and that poor child that was killed over the weekend are all linked in a way, in that these children were given so much freedom, and unfortunatly that freedom put them at risk and they died.

The parents are answerable here too..
 
pinkyBear said:
Hi there,

This crash, the crash in Donegal, and that poor child that was killed over the weekend are all linked in a way, in that these children were given so much freedom, and unfortunatly that freedom put them at risk and they died.

The parents are answerable here too..
Click to expand...

I fully agree - and I've taken some stick over the weekend when I mention this!!

I'm not a parent but parents have a responsibility to their children and to society. They have to be the 'big bad boring adult' sometimes. Teenagers might hate them for a few years but at least they'll still be alive.
 
Parental Responsibility, Enforcing existing Laws etc. are very important but my thinking on the 1 passenger rule (with 6 penalty points for breaking this law) is that the temptation to show off is removed and the penalty is to move the driver very close to losing their driving licence - and this seems to have more of an effect than the threat of losing their life!
 
SIX points :eek: Sure the person would never get insured again. Its a good idea, but i'm sure 2 or 3 max would suffice.
 
Mr. Bear and I fought too over this!!! :) Like you we are not parents, but I have neices that age, one in Dublin the other in Kildare.

My brother and Sister in law would not let their kids out that late. I hope I am not brash in stating the obvious here, but the discipline with which my brother and in-laws enforce is something that happened from infancy! My sister in law did not give my niece coca-cola until she was 10! On a new years eve night!
 
It should be the same as motorbikes. When you're on your provisional license you can't carry a pillion and you have your provisional license for 2 years.

I honestly think that people on motorbikes learn more discipline during those 2 years than people who drive cars during their first 2 years of driving.

A friend of mine got her provisional license in October and by the following May she already had her full license. Now while that might speak volumes about her driving ability, she is 21 and does not have enough experience on the road, having only been behind a wheel for 5 months (when she got her full license) to warrant having a full license.

There was talk on the radio about new rules and regulations in relation to driving tests and lessons etc etc but who knows when any of that will be implemented and if any of it will be policed.

I'll say it again, the lack of transport options in rural areas (around Mayo and Kerry) does have an impact and is a contributing factor to people learning to drive at a young age and carting all their friends around in whatever jalopy they pester their parents to buy.
 
werner said:
How about Garda resources in the Traffic Corps being removed from catching "fish in a barrel" type speed trap operations, you know the type, speed traps on safe motorways, fining tourists at College Green in Dublin when it becomes Bus only etc (I won't bore you with how many useless revenue raising, non-safety Garda actions I can relate, many I seen in my time as a commercial driver) the same resources could be used as in many other European countries to enforce safe driving on these minor roads that have appalling "accidents"

The real problem is the non enforcement of existing road traffic laws where they are obviously needed
Click to expand...

In relation to that bus corridor. While obviously it is an enforceable law and the gardai are just doing their job, I've seen them mickey mousing around pulling over cyclists. I know that cyclists are under the same rules of the road as any other road user but when you see some catastrophic accident like this and the gardai are standing around at their mouse trap operations it just makes you wonder if our money is being spent in the right way.
 
1234 said:
Driver education can only go so far. If you put a young male driver into a car with his peers the macho part of his brain will take over and safe driving will be the last thing on his mind.

I didn't start to drive until I was 26 and even then I'm surprised I ever lived to see my 30's.
Click to expand...
Had two matcho morons pass me on the m50 northbound on saturday afternoon. Both drivers racing each other at what I estimate to be over 120mph. Focus ST vs Jap imported Lexus went ither side of me in the middle lane at the same time. That would wake you up after a 3 hour drive from Cork. Wreckless morons!

I've noticed that these types are usually in their mid 20's, living at home with mammy and daddy, and have the cash to splash on their motor and their Celtic football club replica kit. You'd probably have to teach them to read before you start with the driver education.
 
BK0001 said:
Had two matcho morons pass me on the m50 northbound on saturday afternoon. Both drivers racing each other at what I estimate to be over 120mph. Focus ST vs Jap imported Lexus went ither side of me in the middle lane at the same time.
Click to expand...
Why weren't you on the inside lane if it was vacant?
 
Yeah I've seen that too, absolute madness !!

But how did did one manage to undertake you??

BK0001 said:
went ither side of me in the middle lane at the same time.
Click to expand...

I am assuming you were overtaking a car at the time, if you were driving in the middle lane.
 
SparkRite said:
Yeah I've seen that too, absolute madness !!

But how did did one manage to undertake you??

I am assuming you were overtaking a car at the time, if you were driving in the middle lane.
Click to expand...

Ah come on, no need to start questioning driving in the 2nd lane. You know what the M50 is like. You'd get nowhere by constantly moving in and out of lane 1 and 2.
 
Was coming to the end of the motorway and Malahide is signposted for the middle lane. That's where I was heading!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top