Freagh.com

Who has so far had the fun of Dublin’s new speed limits?

Great ain’t they…….

I left work this morning unaware that they even existed. Sure I passed the sign near Kilmainham last night but it stated that a new 30kmh area was sign posted and I seen no signs. I was out of the country last week and heard no news.

My first sign something had changed was the heavier than normal build up at the lights on the quays. It was not until Ian Dempsey mentioned it on the radio that I knew anything about it being in affect there. I was wondering why everyone was sitting in my dust as I left the lights. Lucky Mr Dempsey mentioned them when they did as I immediately slowed down, just in time to smile at the two fine member of an Garda Siochana and their speed gun. One looking like a half blind snooker player taking a shot as he peered over the gun and the other like Sheriff J.W. Pepper from Live and Let Die. It pissed me off.

As a regular commuter and someone who likes to keep abreast of current affairs and news I realised how easy it was to miss something that affected my daily routine so much and also the fact that a change in speed limit that was unaccompanied by no signs at any stage along my route and on it’s first day the Garda were out with speed checks. Cheeky bastards. To make things worse, about 500 yards after the speed trap, in a layby outside the council bulding sat a Gatso van. One could have mistaken it for a wedding photographer due to the amount of flashes it was producing. If I ever seen a money making scheme with little or no regard for public safety then this morning was it. To add insult to injury the muppet that proposed these changes was on the radio talking about how the new speed would not only make it safer for pedestrian but would mean less stoppages at lights. Well Mr councillor, I was stopped at 5 sets of lights before I passed Guinness this morning, seem like your bang on there. As for making it safer for pedestrians, I was in the right hand lane at the lights beside the ha’penny bridge when the little man turned red, prompting everyone to be on their marks, get ready, goooooo…..wait, no. I have no words to describe the tool that came running across the bridge. I seen him before the lights changed but he was still on the bridge. The lights went green and I did not move off and neither did the car beside me, it’s that common of an occurrence drivers are aware of it. Little man red, drivers with a green light for about 2 or 3 seconds and then just comes off the bridge and across the road. Did not look, did not slow down and clearly did not care.That’s not the worst of it. What was worse is two gards seen it happen and just kept on strolling.

I suppose if all this annoys me I could just get to work on public transport…..HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, like that will work.