Driving

A few observations about driving in various countries

South Africa

The major inter-city roads in South Africa are generally very good, with high geometric standards, and wide shoulders. Signage (both regulatory and directional) is also excellent.

South African drivers are very courteous on the open road. Slow moving vehicles will move onto the shoulder, allowing faster traffic to overtake safely. The overtaking vehicle acknowledges this courtesy with a blink or two of the emergency flashers.

Dublin

A single word for visitors wanting to drive around Dublin: Don't!

There are one or two complications to driving in this city which make it a challenge for the newcomer:

• No road runs in a straight line for more than 200 metres.


• No two roads are parallel, and no two roads intersect at right angles.


• Every road changes its name at every intersection.


• Road name signs (when they exist) are hidden high up on the walls of houses, in a tastefully low-contrast lettering - impossible to read


• One-way streets, no-left-turn and no-right-turn restrictions are scattered at random.

The outcome of all this is that two nights running we spent more than a few minutes driving in circles trying to find our B&B. Maybe we could have asked a Guard (policeman) - but where do you find one when you need them?

Nissan Microbe

I am rapidly developing a loathing of the tiny slug-like vehicle which clog the arteries of Ireland. Little old ladies and German toursist are seen driving (if that's the word) these nasty mechanised thromboses at 60 km/h in the 100 zone, hogging the middle of the road, and trailing a caravan of increasingly frustrated and irritated motorists.

Ireland should do itself a favour, and eradicate the Nissan Micra without delay.