A quick guide to Motorways Signs brings you on this Blog the most used signs on Irish roads, as part of our Understanding Traffic Signs posts. We hope you find it helpful and easy to access whenever you may need it.
Motorway signs are rectangular with blue backgrounds and white writing or symbols. Below are the most used signs on Irish roads:
As much as it may sound like an easy task in general, shopping for a new car can be quite tricky if you are not so sure what to go for.
To start with, ask yourself what kind of car you want and what type of car you need. There is a huge different between the two options, as what you like might not necessarily be what you need. But according to car experts, considering what you like and dislike will make you happier long term, even if the car you are going for doesn’t necessarily fulfill your daily needs. But be careful here not to find yourself unable to perform your daily routine because of your car choice – for example: If you are a construction worker and need space to transport logs and huge pieces of wood and stuff, then a pickup truck will be the best option for you.
Moving on, ask yourself what you need by way of performance and space in the car. This is also the time to ask yourself who will be your passengers. This is especially important for those who have a big family with children and need to add on car seats. More space is needed if you are carrying your whole family with you, so a car with more space inside is preferable. If you have a large family and/or regularly transport about 5-6 people, get a van or minivan. A minivan can be safer in that it has a low center of gravity almost like a car.
But if only you are going to drive that car, and you are not going to transport more than one person somewhere, a two-seater should be fine. Consider, however, that a smallish back seat adds little or nothing to the cost and fuel consumption of the car, allows the passenger seat to recline more, and greatly increases cargo capacity (sometimes with the seats dropping and connecting to the trunk). A two-seater is more for extreme compactness, style and handling than lack of need of a rear seat.
If you usually transport 3-4 people but don’t need that much trunk space, a compact to mid-size should be fine. If you usually transport around 4 people and need lots of trunk space, then you should get a full-size sedan, a minivan, or an SUV. A minivan is roomiest of these and more efficient than the SUV – some have a stretched nose to look less minivan like. A full-size sedan is most comfortable, but an SUV often has four wheel drive and is good at low speed, for poor road conditions.
After you have a better idea which type of car you should go for, it is time to check your budget. Before going to the showrooms for test drives and car checks, have a primary budget in mind. This will help you to remain reasonable about the choices and not give in to a car you really cannot afford. If you’re on a Suzuki or Hyundai budget, it’ll help you not to tiptoe toward an Audi or Mercedes.
You should also consider fuel efficiency. If you need a fuel-efficient car, a hybrid will be right for you. You’ll want to consider however whether it is worth it or not. If you have a commute longer than thirty miles to work daily, or if you spend a great deal of a short commute in traffic every morning, then hybrids are a great option versus economy sized four cylinder cars. Extra cylinders and displacement greatly decrease fuel economy overall, and extra frontal area greatly decreases fuel economy at speed. A long, low car such as a big sedan or wagon with a relatively small, cheap engine can be stylish, comfortable and safe. For a personal, urban car, petrol or gas is best over diesel.
We will back with the second part of ‘How to Choose a New Car’ soon! We hope you found it helpful.
Have you ever wondered what time is the best time of the day to take your driving test? Although some may say that the best time for a driving test is irrelevant as you should possess the ability to handle any situation, driving test nerves play a significant factor and so choosing an appropriate time for the test is important. The best driving test time is dependent on many factors. Initially consult your driving instructor if you have one. Your driving instructor is likely to have a thorough knowledge of the traffic situation throughout the day and will match this to your driving ability.
Early Driving Test – Early driving test times of 08:10 and 09:07 will see you taking your driving test during rush hour. How much of a rush hour is relative to where you live. Although you may occasionally hear that a test candidate remained stuck in traffic jams throughout the duration of their test, making it easy, is not often the case.
The examiner doesn’t want to be stuck in traffic as this will not fully test your ability at driving and runs the risk of returning to the test center late. During early driving test times, an examiner will choose driving test routes that are less likely to result in traffic queues, making the driving test run smoother and on time.
Early driving test times are more likely to encounter frantic drivers trying to get to work, parents on the school run and a higher percentage of cyclists and pedestrians. Early test times are much more likely to involve traffic queues to some degree however, and so you need to weigh up the odds of the likely hood of the ‘advantage’ being stuck in traffic queues and the disadvantage of competing with high volumes of frantic drivers and cyclists. If however there are some areas within the test routes of your test center that you are not confident on such as busy multi-lane roundabouts, these maybe disregarded during early morning rush hour tests to avoid delays.
Ideal Driving Test Time – Probably the best driving test time is outside of rush hour. Driving test times of 10:14 and 13:35 being the ideal choice as this will also avoid the slight traffic increase that may occur during lunchtime. These test times with minimal traffic will likely see the examiner taking you over a broader amount of road types such as dual carriageways for example. Roads such as dual carriageways can often be disregarded from the test routes during rush hour due to the risk of traffic queues or accidents. Although these may be an increase the variety of roads taken during quieter times of the day, providing you are familiar and confident with test routes, the reduced amount of traffic should make 10:14 and 13:35 the best driving test times.
A NEW DRIVER is offering an EDT 6 lesson package* worth €160 to a lucky winner in March! All you have to do is: LIKE our Facebook Page, SHARE IT and Make a Comment Tagging a friend who also needs to take driving lessons!
Winner will be announced by the end of March!
What is EDT?
Essential Driver Training – EDT – is a mandatory training course that teaches fundamental driving skills to learner car drivers. It is part of the RSA’s Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) scheme and is intended to improve road safety.
Even if you are not required to complete EDT, you may still choose to take an EDT course, as it can help increase your chances of passing the driving test and will help make you a better safer driver.
A NEW DRIVER is run by James Hickey – a fully qualified and patient Driving Instructor with over 10 years of experience.
One of Google’s self-driving cars crashed into a bus in California last month. The crash happened in Mountain View, near Google’s headquarters.
On 14 February the car, travelling at 2mph (3km/h), pulled out in front of a public bus going 15mph (24km/h). The human in the Google vehicle reported that he assumed the bus would slow down to let the car out, and so he did not override the car’s self-driving computer.
Even though there were no injuries, it is not the first time one of Google’s famed self-driving cars has been involved in a crash, but it may be the first time it has caused one.
Google is to meet with California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to discuss the incident, and determine where the blame lies.
In a statement, Google said: “We clearly bear some responsibility, because if our car hadn’t moved, there wouldn’t have been a collision. That said, our test driver believed the bus was going to slow or stop to allow us to merge into the traffic, and that there would be sufficient space to do that.”
The company’s self-driving cars have clocked up well over a million miles across various states in the US, and until now, have only reported minor “fender benders” – the American slang for a small collision. In all of those cases, other road users were to blame.
Google releases a monthly report detailing the testing of its self-driving technology.
We all suffer with nerves from time to time; however, a driving test is probably one of those times when your nerves may affect you more than usual. If you’re feeling anxious about your test, or even nervous about driving lessons, here are some helpful tips on ‘how to stay cool and stop your nerves during your driving test.’
1. Practice as much as possible
This may be an obvious tip, however the more you are in the car driving, learning and practising your maneuvers and gaining experience, the less likely you are to make a mistake on the big day.
If there is a particular maneuver, or area you are unsure with, make sure that leading up to your test you perfect it with your instructor. You could also head out with a family member, or friend to help practice, however try not to pick up any bad habits from the experienced driver next to you.
2. Eat Well!
A person’s diet can have a huge affect on their stress levels. There are also many foods that can radically reduce anxiety. Almonds, for example, contain the nutrient Zinc, this is key for maintaining a balanced mood and will also keep hunger at bay during your test, whilst porridge with blueberries are filled with antioxidants that are said to be extremely beneficial for relieving stress. Bananas are great for stopping hunger pangs, but also as a ‘driving test nerves breakfast’, as it contains tryptophan, which the human body converts into serotonin – more known as the happy hormone. Dark chocolate is also great for this too, however, if you don’t fancy filling up on food before your test, simply distract your nerves with a mint, or chewing gum instead. And let’s not forget about the drinks: No caffeine intake before the test! Instead, try herbal teas, fresh juices or just water.
3. Get Comfy
As well as ensuring a good night’s sleep, plenty of practice and a healthy breakfast, when it comes to the moment when you step into the car, make sure you take time to breathe and create a safe environment around you. Open the window a little for some fresh air; check your seat so that you’re not hunched or cramped and double check your mirrors are in the correct position. You’re in no rush to get started so start everything in your own time and put yourself in full control.
4. Don’t be afraid of Silence
Your instructor may have been chatty on your lessons, talking you through maneuvers and giving advice, but when it comes to your test, you may experience a long period of silence other than simple navigation instructions. Learn to accept this and instead, use it to your advantage so you can focus your full concentration on the road ahead.
5. Faults
If you feel you have made a mistake on the day, don’t panic! You may feel it was a huge mistake, but your examiner might think differently. Don’t let it affect your drive ahead and try to relax. Some learners have even admitted that after thinking they had failed with a mistake, they relaxed more and enjoyed the drive, only to be told at the end that had in fact passed.
6. Don’t tell the world
Try not to tell everyone you know that you have a test coming up. Instead, limit the news to close friends and family as the more people that know, the more anxious you will be for the end result. Good Luck!
A lot of Learner Drivers ask themselves what are the most important points to watch for before and during their Test. So here is the Top 10 Driving Test Failure Points to consider for your Driving Test:
1. Nerves:
They cause you not drive at your best and have a significant effect on your decision-making. Try not to think too much about the test. Do your best and remember if you fail, you can always do it again!
2. Clutch:
If you have a bad “coasting” problem on the clutch you will have NO chance of passing the test. I will demonstrate and explain how to fix your bad habits on the clutch.
3. Reverse around a corner:
Major failing point for a lot of test candidates. I´ll show you a techniques how to do it and PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!
4. Observation:
Incorrect/ineffective observation moving off, turning right and left plus roundabouts, changing lanes,overtaking, and slowing down/stopping.
5. Reaction to Hazards:
Little or no anticipation or reacting late to a hazard or possible danger ahead i.e a speed ramps or pulling in for an oncoming car on a narrow road etc.
6. Position:
Incorrect position on the straight by driving too far to the right on the road. Too wide turning left or hitting a kerb. Cutting corners turning right or going too far before you turn i.e “swan-necking”
7. Progress:
Taking too long or lack of progress on the straight by driving too slow on the strain and particularly turning right at junctions and traffic lights.
8. Vehicle Controls:
Improper use of or not using accelerator, clutch, gears, foot-brake, handbrake, secondary controls, effectively.
9. Clearance to stationary vehicles:
Not giving the “width of a door” clearance or driving unnecessarily too close to parked vehicles.
10. Traffic signs:
Failure to completely “STOP” at a stop sign.
*TOP TIP: Always make sure to choose an experienced and fully qualified Instructor to help you achieve your goal! James Hickey from A NEW DRIVER has over 10 years of experience in Ireland & UK.
Well it’s that time again and the madness of the GAA Football final is upon us.
Any customers looking to book driving lessons on this day should be aware of the traffic congestion in the areas of Cabra / Phibsboro and Gardiner street etc.
ANewDriver.ie wishes the Dublin team every success this weekend!!
Motorway ahead
Motorway ahead
Advance direction sign
Entry to motorway
300m to next exit
200m to next exit
100m to next exit
Motorway ends 1km ahead
Motorway ends 500m ahead
End of motorway
Route confirmatory sign for M7
Advance direction sign for destination
Stop
Yield
Yield
School wardens stop sign
No left turn
No Entry
No right turn
Parking prohibited
Clearway
Max speed limit 30km/h
Max speed limit 50km/h
Max speed limit 60km/h
Max speed limit 80km/h
Max speed limit 100km/h
Max speed limit 120km/h
Taxi Rank
No entry for large vehicles(by reference to weight)
No U-turn
No overtaking
Height restriction
Pedestrianised street
Parking permitted
Disc parking plate
Zonal restriction – no parking of large vehicles
End of the restriction zone
Turn left ahead
Turn right ahead
Turn left
Turn right
Pass either side
Straight ahead
Keep right
Keep left
No entry for pedestrians to tramway
Stop
Either form of Go
or Téigh can be used
No entry to goods vehicles (by reference to number of axles)
With flow bus lane on left
With flow bus lane on right
Contra flow bus lane
Tram lane on left
Tram lane on right
Start of cycle track
End of cycle track
Electronic variable speed limit sign (tunnel only)
In a tunnel goods vehicles cannot use right-hand lane (by reference to number of axles)
Electronic periodic speed limit sign
Electronic periodic speed limit sign at school
Tram only street
Tram and access only street
Bus only street
Go (Lane open)
Stop (Lane closed)
Move into the left-hand lane
Move into the right-hand lane
