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DRIVERS ARE BEING asked to exercise patience with slow-moving vehicles on our roads as the busy farming season gets underway.
Motorists are also being warned to reduce their speed as soon as they see a slow-moving vehicle.
The advice from Mayo County Council said car users, who will often drive at comfortably on country roads at speeds of up to 80kph, will “find their heart rates soaring and steam coming out of their ears” when they end up behind a tractor driving at its top speed of 45kph.
If you do get stuck, it’s not going to take up a lot of extra time.
“Even if you have to slow down to 30 kph and follow a tractor for two miles, it only takes six minutes of your time, which is equivalent to waiting for two traffic lights,” road safety office Noel Gibbons said.
Farmers will often pull-in to allow cars by, but some time is often needed to find an appropriate space to do so. They are being advised to pick off-peak times to head out on the roads.
If you are driving behind a tractor, Gibbons advises motorists to make sure to only pass the vehicle when it is safe to do so, and to make sure the vehicle isn’t turning, as many have to make wide left-turns.
“Begin to reduce your speed immediately after seeing a slow moving vehicle emblem,” the advice adds.
“Remember at 90kph, a driver has about four seconds before colliding with a tractor a football field away.”
“The next time you find yourself sharing the road with farm equipment, take a moment to appreciate the farmer’s life and be thankful for the food they provide,” Gibbons.
Between 1996 and 2000, as many as 70% of fatal road collisions took place on rural roads.
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We are one of the “lucky ones” who have managed to secure a place for September only a year late. If this was typical children , with a whole year of primary education lost, heads would roll. I’m so relieved we have a school place for the the upcoming September but I also feel guilt for having a place when so many others don’t. Everything about this proposal irks me but most of all the fact that they are centres and not schools. Children want to go to school. Even children with special needs.
Madigan and Foley are incompetent self serving liars who should resign.
Through section 37a of the schools admissions act which allows the ministers to compel schools to set up special classes they have had the authority to resolve this for years.
They opposed it existing, watered down the original version of the law and have underused and abused it ever since.
They do not care and this latest “I could fix it but let’s segregate you kids and deny them their right to an appropriate education just cos” proves that point.
If the solution is a short term fix, that’s ok and better than nothing.
However if it is the schools and the department messing it about that’s different altogether.
I always look to the departments to see they why things are going wrong. Most ministers read what they are handed as the reason something cannot happen or is not happening at present.
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