Driving at Night

haynes9 · Veteran Member

Driving at Night

tony2phones · Guru

RE: Driiving at Night

stewh · Guru

Driving at Night

Michele Erdvig · Host

Haynes,

Outside of cities and towns there is absolutely no lighting. It's darker than the bottom of a coal mine at night. I never drive at night except to drive from my accommodations to a restaurant. And then, I know the way. Plan to be at your accommodations by sundown. In fact, reservations expire at 6 pm in Ireland - unless you contact them in advance to let them know of your late arrival.

Michele

P.S. Bit (Cowboy Craic) on the forum lives in Arizona too!

Monty · Senior Member

Been to Ireland many times, and over the years have a firm rule -- have the car parked for the night at the B&B while still light out. We always stay within walking distance of the village we are in, so that is how we get to eat or enjoy some time at a pub.

Can't think of too many good reasons to drive at night over there if you are not used to the roads. As Michele notes, there are no lights on any highways or lanes, and it is not something I enjoyed the couple of times I did it.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Over the last eleven years, I've visited Ireland a dozen times and racked up 10's of thousands of kilometers of driving time. I've been in Feb and April, when it gets dark EARLY and June and July, when it seems to stay light forever ... biggrin

I try to avoid driving in the dark, mostly because it gets REALLY dark (as the others have mentioned) and to avoid having an unpleasant interaction with Locals who grew up traveling those narrow, dark roads and are NOT amused by my Cautious Pessimism ... ashamed

That is NOT to say that I do not or will not drive in the dark -- merely that I preferr not to.

I honestly believe that after the sun sets and the asphalt cools, those narrow Irish roads actually CONTRACT and become SMALLER. cry

I have NO scientific PROOF, mind you -- but it certainly SEEMS like they shrink, to me! biggrin

Bob

haynes9 · Veteran Member

The votes are in and counted . . . think I'll stay off the roads at night! I'm used to pitch dark back roads here on the Reservation, but that's just it - I'm USED to them! Thanks for the input everyone!
Mark

Michele Erdvig · Host

Mark,

Good plan. There is a big difference when you know where you are going in the dark.

Michele

Roy · Guru

Fortunately sunset is late when we go June, July, & August. I'm on board with the no driving in darkness. Like Monty, I like to find lodging within walking distance to the nearest town.

Green Dragon · Guru

Yeah, you will be having light until 10-10:30 pm and as early as 4:30 in the summer months, especially in late June.

haynes9 · Veteran Member

Since we are going on March 8th, we'll have to pack in as much as we can during the short days. Should be fun!

CCJPO · Member

I concur w/the rest of the folks. We live in a small town in rural Nevada, 60 miles from anywhere, as we like to say. And it is dark here. However, as in Arizona, most nights are clear, stars and moon provide natural light, also not many tress or anything else growing for that matter. Even after 7 trips and over 200 days in Ireland, I still prefer not to drive at night. Have done so and will do it again. However it is not something I look forward to. Ireland's dark is way darker then our great, southwestern dark. Not as many clear nights, lots of trees and shrubs and other growing things next to the roads as well as forming canopies over rural roads. If you decide to make sure the driver has had no alcohol at all. Tough laws and penalties all who get caught.Enjoy your trip

Roy · Guru

Another good reason to find accommodation within safe walking distance to nearby towns.

haynes9 · Veteran Member

CCJPO wrote:

I concur w/the rest of the folks. We live in a small town in rural Nevada, 60 miles from anywhere, as we like to say. And it is dark here. However, as in Arizona, most nights are clear, stars and moon provide natural light, also not many tress or anything else growing for that matter. Even after 7 trips and over 200 days in Ireland, I still prefer not to drive at night. Have done so and will do it again. However it is not something I look forward to. Ireland's dark is way darker then our great, southwestern dark. Not as many clear nights, lots of trees and shrubs and other growing things next to the roads as well as forming canopies over rural roads. If you decide to make sure the driver has had no alcohol at all. Tough laws and penalties all who get caught.Enjoy your trip
You are absolutely right about driving in the Southwest at night. When it is clear, it's actually a beautiful drive. With all the snow we are having in the mountains these days, it's tough for sure.
All the input helped me to decide what I had thought in the first place - at dusk, we are back to the base!!