Wicklow.com Webmaster Blog

Yep. Even though this blog hasn’t exactly been stuffed with posts, I have moved blogging over to my own blog hosting service on Wicklow.com – and you can put a blog there too if you like. It’s all free as well.

url is http://www.wicklow.com/blogs or http://helloworld.wicklow.com

The news that Gay Byrne is the new chairman of the Road Safety Authority is to be welcomed. He has a high profile and is a straight talker and takes no nonsense. This was evidenced in the press conference when he said he would walk away from the chairmanship if he felt he was being messed about.It was refreshing to see someone sit beside a government minister and publicly state “mess with me and you’ll regret it”. This is exactly the sort of approach needed.

But what exactly can be done to improve road safety. Enforcement is one way of course, but ultimately the responsibility for road safety rests with each one of us. It’s not just motorists, but every road user.

I had an idea some time ago and I have sent it to the new chairman to see if he thinks it’s as good an idea as I do.

The idea is called Roadpledge.

Basically, motorists and other road users will be encouraged to sign a pledge that says “I pledge to be responsibile in my driving. I pledge to maintain the speed limit. I pledge to show consideration to other road users. I pledge to make Irish roads the safest in the world. Signed ….. “ or some words to that effect.

All those who make the pledge either online or in person (at say a County Council office) will receive a sticker to display on their car, bike or for pedestrians a badge could be made available too.

Seeing all the pledge logos on the roads will be an immediate sign of change for good. Making a pledge and signing your name to it is like writing down a goal. A written goal is more powerful than simply thinking about something.

Displaying the pledge sticker is also a visual reminder every day when you step into your car that you have made a promise to your fellow Irishmen, women and children that your driving will be 100% safe. 

That’s it in a nutshell. Comments and feedback welcome

No, I’m not talking about the biscuits that were responsible for Kelly Osbourne being at least 2 stone overweight. I’m talking about morning “rush hour” traffic and the breed of driver who constantly dodges from lane to lane (mostly without indicating), in the belief they are making quicker progress in traffic.

Seriously, are these people really so desperate to get to the next set of traffic lights 30 seconds earlier than me that they will flash me out of the “fast lane”. Top Gear did one of their funny features a few years ago on this very subject. One of the boys drove constant speed and stayed in one lane. The other kept changing lanes and tried to make better progress in traffic.

I think it was Jeremy Clarkson who stayed in lane. And guess what, he ended up about 2 minutes behind the lane dodger.

Bottom line is. If you’re doing a commute in Ireland – take it from one who has done the commute along the N11 for close on 15 years. The best possible way to get to your destination is stick on the radio, settle in and stick to your lane and mind the speed limit. That way, you’ll keep your hair longer and your blood pressure lower.

This is the incredible first post of my personal blog. Haven’t much to say right now as I basically setup the wordpress.com blog account so I could get an api key to install Akisment on news.wicklow.com as spam comments are hitting the site at a rate of knots I’m surprised with.