Before overtaking or changing lanes, remember ‘mirror, signal, mirror, manoeuvre’.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is hosting a number of events for Irish Road Safety Week which is currently underway and runs until Sunday, October 8. The RSA is encouraging people to support Irish Road Safety Week and get involved with events in their local communities.
Friday, October 6: National Child Safety Day. The RSA will launch its Child Casualties report on Friday. National Child Safety Day also provides an opportunity for pre-schoolers to get involved in road safety. Pre-schools pre-ordered Beep Beep packs on the RSA website and the RSA will be distributing these packs, with over 40,000 high visibility vests to pre-schools nationwide, in time for National Child Safety Day.
Motorway Safety: For Irish Road Safety Week next week, the RSA are reminding road users of the Rules of the Road when driving on Ireland’s motorway network.
The key rules of the road when it comes to driving on a motorway include:
• The maximum speed limit on a motorway is 120km per hour unless:
o There are signs indicating another speed limit, for example due to roadworks or bad weather.
o You are driving a vehicle that is subject to a lower speed limit such as a bus (100km/h) or truck (90km/h), or if you are towing a trailer, caravan or horse/cattle box (80km/h).
• You should always drive in the left lane unless you need to overtake a slower vehicle, or the lane is blocked. Once you have finished overtaking, move from the right lane back into the left lane as soon as it is safe to do so. On a three-lane motorway, there is an extra overtaking lane, but you should still keep left as much as possible.
• Check your mirrors on a constant basis, as the situation around you will be changing all the time. Before overtaking or changing lanes, remember ‘mirror, signal, mirror, manoeuvre’.
• Remember that you must leave enough room in front of you to allow you to stop safely.
Road users are reminded that it is an offence to stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway unless it’s an emergency (i.e. a breakdown). If this occurs, you should call for help using your mobile phone or one of the emergency roadside phones, and wait at a safe place, behind the crash barrier. Additionally, under no circumstances should anyone ever walk or cycle on a motorway.
If you find yourself driving against the flow of traffic, pull in immediately to the hard shoulder and stop. Contact the Gardaí by dialling 999 or 112. Do not attempt to turn your vehicle. Wait for help in a safe place.
The RSA have a promotional video demonstrating how to use and change lanes correctly and safely when driving on a motorway.
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