South Meath Driving School

Anyone can get into a skid, but, how many can cope? There is a way out, so, should it happen to you, don’t close your eyes and wait for the bang!
According to Met Eireann, the average number of days in the year when snow is lying on the ground is 5. (This winter may up that statistic!) Probably, the better way to deal with icy or snowy roads is to stay off them: don’t make the journey unless its urgent.

The vehicle and road may contribute to skidding, but the main contributor is the driver. There are three types of skid which are caused by the following –
1. Excessive speed for the existing road conditions or traffic situation.
2. Excessive acceleration, braking or cornering sharply.
3. A combination of both of the above.

So, a skid occurs when you change speed or direction so suddenly that the tyres cannot keep their grip on the road. There’s increased risk of skidding as the driver slows down, speeds up, turns a corner or drives uphill or downhill.

A rear wheel skid occurs when the rear wheels lose their grip which can be caused by any of the aforementioned factors. This type of skid is easily recognised because the rear of the car slides away from the centre of the road or corner. If not corrected, the vehicle may turn around completely on the road. To correct this problem, release the accelerator and footbrake, turn the steering wheel in the same direction as the skid. Unless your vehicle has anti-lock braking system (ABS), the brakes should be reapplied immediately after release and continue that process until control is regained. Care should be taken not to oversteer, particularly in the case of radial tyres as this could cause the vehicle to spin in the opposite direction. ABS brakes will allow you to steer on slippery surfaces because it applies and releases the brakes to maximum effect without locking the wheels; therefore, with ABS, the foot may be kept firmly on the brake pedal in a skid situation.

The front wheel skid occurs when the front wheels lose their grip, leaving the driver with no directional control. It occurs as a result of turning sharply into a bend at excessive speed or under hard acceleration or braking. The vehicle simply cannot go in the direction in which it is being steered. Should time permit, the skid may be corrected by momentarily straightening the front wheels and/or reducing pressure on the accelerator or brake.

The four wheel skid occurs when all four wheels lose their grip. It similarly occurs as a result of excessive speed or braking. The vehicle may be similarly taken out of that skid by releasing the brake temporarily, reapplying again, unless you have ABS and turning the steering in the direction of the skid.

Progressive braking in good time can prevent all those situations arising. Be alert, read the danger signs and road markings; judge distance; observe the traffic volume but of all, respond to road and weather conditions. Stopping distance in ice or snow may be increased 10 fold. Gradual acceleration and staying in a higher gear than usual is required; slightly deflated tyres helps to reduce skidding. Don’t mix cross-ply and radial tyres on the same axle, but, if you do mix them, fit the cross-ply to the front and radials to the rear. Beware of black ice, you cant see it: its ‘noiseless.’ Be attentive to fallen leaves, shady areas, exposed bridges – they thrive on little frost. Ironically, frost and snow slows us all up and helps prevent accidents. We should do likewise in the sun!

The black cube that is the traditional voting box is again fully restored to its former glory after a scare from its electronic prototype. Our diligent registrars will be busy sorting and counting results in a next few weeks time. The boxes come back at great cost after some brainiacs practically discarded them in the belief that they’d had their day, but, unsightly and all as they are, they’re probably back for the long haul. Do spare a thought for the canvassers, some of whom can be heard humming ‘And that old triangle went jingle jangle …’ All politics being local, I have a small problem for one of them to fix, before I cast any dye. Its about a yellow box.

The yellow scrawls that are to be seen at many junctions and crossroads are not to be taken for granted. Those are yellowbox junctions, simply painted yellow for easier visibility with their criss-cross lines. They allow traffic to egress from a minor road in busy conditions. That box of paint is a substitute for a traffic light or even a pointsman. Quite a simple idea it was and the box carries a lot of weight. Too many drivers ignore their proper use, but, in another while there will be penalty points secured for breaching the rules, so be warned.

The main rule applying is that you must not enter the box junction unless you can clear it without stopping. The exception to this rule is that you may enter the box and stop in it, intending to turn right and are prevented from doing so by oncoming traffic. Theres little mention anywhere on those subjects of the situation where you wish to turn left in the yellow box.

A good example is at Watergate St., Navan: you are exiting from Abbey Road and must turn left into a two lane carriageway. It’s one way and traffic is piled up, but the box is empty. There, you enter the box and occupy it at an angle, maybe, facing into either lane, space being at a premium. Similarly, when exiting from Patrick St., Trim, onto the bypass to turn left: if traffic is built up the box should be clear so use the opportunity to enter it to turn left.

Have you attempted to exit onto the bypass from Newtown Rd (Marcies Rd) at Whitelodge around 3.30pm to 6.30pm. The whole junction is wide enough to accommodate a ceili band and a crowd at a crossroads dance, but what have we got?
Two narrow lanes, one to enter, one to exit, flanked on either side by large grass margins and footpaths. Traffic on the bypass going towards Athboy is lined from the lights back down towards the Boyne. So anyone wishing to turn right off the Newtown Rd is stranded and moves at the will of those on the main road. If that isn’t bad enough, what of the driver wishing to turn left there? He’s blocked by those turning right, there being only one lane to exit. How can it be improved? Add an extra lane for those turning left and paint a yellow box on the town side of the bypass. It wont cure but the logjam but it would be a vast improvement. It is irritating for locals, especially, to be constantly delayed for long periods at this junction. The space is already there, let it be used.

So when the canvasser calls to your door, keep the problem local: forget about NAMA and the lack some parties symbols on the posters, introduce ‘Up the Junction’ at awhitelodge. At least we can live on a promise in times like these.

Mick Morris is probably better known in the Bective/Navan area than most sitting councillors and, indeed, many a man or woman with problems more wide ranging than that political, have gone to him for advice and in most cases resolution. He gave so much to football that for any one game he lined the field, put up nets, manned the gate and then refereed the match itself. Everyone knows the colour of his leanings but we’ll stay silent on it here. In any case, Mr Morris was going to a funeral in Navan accompanied by Jim Fitzsimons who then represented us in Europe. On entering the church, they moved to the book of condolences: the politician signed it Jim Fitzsimons MEP, the all-rounder Mick signed it Mick Morris OAP.

Cliff Richard’s song ‘We’re all going on a Summer Holiday, no more worries for me and you, …’ became a regular advertisement piece for promoters of the subject over the past forty years. That coincided with the good ould days when the mobile home in Bettystown or a caravan park in Bundoran were among the better holiday destinations: the children who had had the pleasure of such breaks gleefully recounted in their school compositions the following September, the wonderful time they’d had. The journey there and back in the Hillman Minx or Morris Oxford was, in itself, as joyous as the holiday. What a difference a generation or two makes: the recent past has seen us jet off to hot spots south of the equator or a holiday involving a car journey (gabh mo leithsceil, should I not say a peoplecarrier journey) to the Lake District or Marseilles, staying in a state of the art camp site with Water World a side show for the kiddies!
Well, just in case we have to get back to the car journey again, be prepared! Apart from a full service, there are many checks and corrections which any competent driver can carry out without the assistance of a mechanic or a garage forecourt calling.
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