Back to School Motoring Mayhem

Since its back to School Time and a lot of extra Traffic on the roads several times a day it’s pertinent to have a look at some of the hazards that a Driver will encounter in the vicinity of Schools and Shops.

(1) Unfortunately when Mums and Dads are on the School Run quite often commonsense and courtesy go out the Window. Drivers that may be average in skill turn into morons during this period in the quest for quick turnaround and completion of routine on time.

(2) What I am talking about here is double and triple parking outside schools and shops.

(3) Parking nose in, instead of reversing in to the space. This means of course a reverse out into the road and into the path of oncoming traffic, which is not the slightest bit interested in your kids or your hectic routine. After all we’ve been there, done that, and hell we have routines of our own.

(4) There is a School near me that I pass several times a day and its mayhem at Schools in and Schools out time. All the Parents think about is their pride and Joy and to hell the rest of you Motorists. What is particularly bad about this school is that it is flavour of the month for the well to do,
who come from miles away to deposit their kids and who do not live in the immediate area. The result is that they have no comprehension of the Residents of the area and the volume of traffic that passes the school all day long.

(5) Shops near schools present a major hazard in the afternoon as kids are not born with an inbuilt sense of Road propriety. They will act the fool and often push each other into the road. In fact it’s quite common for a bunch of older Kids to push one of their number into the path of a Learner Driver, under instruction, just to see what will happen!

(6) World War Three in the back seat, creates major distraction for Drivers who either are inexperienced or just plain unable to discipline their passengers (kids).
Not so long ago I was privileged to be behind one of these Drivers for a mile or so in traffic and for the duration the driver spent 50% to 60 % of the total time with her head turned to the left, trying to issue instructions and not concentrating on the road.There were four or five kids of varying age in the car. I kept my distance fearing the worst.

This Monstrous Ballet is repeated at every School parking lot in the State several times a day and clearly it shows the complete lack of regard that most Adults have for other Drivers. I think what is probably worse, if that's possible, is the poor example being shown to the young passengers,who will undoubtely behave the same way when they themselves become Drivers.

The School Principals have a responsibility also to point out and enforce proper parking manners and etiquette. We have several Schools slap bang in the middle of Driving Test Routes here in Limerick and the knowledge of the Moronic Driving behaviour in the vicinity of these havens of learning is always passed on to Pupils on the lead up to their Driving Tests!


That’s it for today … Safe Driving.


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