irishcar.com - Road Signs Survey

In response to many requests and complaints, IrishCar,com undertook the first survey of its kind into how foreign drivers view our roads and signposting.

The results are sad and alarming.

Sad because with all the money we are supposed to be spending on our roads, we are still languishing at third-world level in many areas. Our signs are a disgrace in many rural areas.

Alarming because this survey, for the first time, highlights how historical neglect is now threatening to hurt the major tourist industry.

The questions asked were simple and straightforward. They were designed to elicit an honest response to people's experience here.

We can only recommend they are taken on board by the relevant authorities and prompt some action.

The results of the survey show that two-in-five car driving tourists would not take their vehicle back here.

They found their holiday enjoyment had been diminished by poor roads and signposting.

They went astray too often and were critical of roads in rural areas especially.

A significant number said they would think again about using their car to re-visit Ireland.

More than two-in-five (44%) said their experience would deter them from driving here again while more than half (56%) said it would not.

Nearly two-in-five (39%) did not intend to return here in the near future while 61% planned to come back quite soon.

IrishCar.com surveyed 200 car-using tourists at Rosslare and Dublin ports as they prepared to return home after a driving holiday here.

But while the survey serves as a sharp reminder of how much needs to be done to provide tourists with improved standards of mobility, there is a heartening core to their response generally to 'Ireland'.

Most criticised the roads, but nearly all loved the country and said they would return - not necessarily with their cars - at some stage in the future.

There is a clearly defined divergence of opinion between British drivers and those from countries throughout Europe and further afield.

In general, Continental visitors were pleased with the overall quality of the major routes in particular. And they were particularly impressed with the level of improvements in recent years.

However, almost without exception, they said they found the road surfaces on rural roads to be poor. And that would be the major deterrent to a return car holiday here.
In general they found sign posting to be 'satisfactory' in the Dublin area but less so along rural roads. Some sign posting from the capital to Dublin Port was described as 'poor'.

Most continental drivers found sign posting in rural areas to be 'inadequate'. They felt there are not enough signposts, many are confusing, several are turned the wrong way and many had inaccurate distances.

They also found signposts to be too small and placed too near road junctions. They wanted far greater notice of junctions and directions.

Also striking was the number who regarded sign posting as abysmal at night. Few, if any, signposts were illuminated - even those on major routes. This was a constant gripe.

But there was praise for signs painted on road surfaces. Some even suggested it would be worth having this practice adopted in their own countries.

Many found that, notwithstanding the improvements being made to the road network, there were too many roadworks in progress.

In contrast with continentals, most British drivers said in general the road network here, away from major routes, was 'poor'.

However, they found many sections of major routes such as dual carriageways to be of better quality than many A roads in Britain. But our short stretches of motorway hardly registered with them. All seemed to be impressed with the level of improvements being carried out.

Many of those who had been here before had little difficulty and praised improvements over the last few years

The survey was conducted during August at Rosslare and Dublin ports.

Those surveyed included drivers from Britain, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, and one from New Zealand.

All found drivers here to be courteous, though less so in city areas. Some commented that some Irish drivers drove too fast but most felt comfortable driving here.

The details:

A majority (68%) felt our road system - and they emphasised the poor quality of our rural roads - was poor, very poor or fair;

20% described it as 'good'.

One third (35%) had difficulty (ranging from moderate to severe) in finding their way round the country.

Nearly half (48%) got lost several times, 74% at least once, with 2% going astray frequently.

Nearly one-quarter (25%) said our signage system was worse than their own but most (61%) put it on a par with their country of origin.

39% did not intend to return here in the near future while 61% did.

More than two-in-five (44%) said their experience would deter them from driving here again while 56% said it would not.