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How you could end up with a hefty bill if you crash on the M50

Roadway damage on the M50 caused by car accidents is recouped from your insurance company says M50 Concessions Ltd

BE CAREFUL WHEN driving on the M50 – not just for your own safety, but because you may find yourself with a hefty bill if you have an accident which causes damage to the motorway.

In the event of an accident on the M50, roadway damage you cause gets recovered from your insurance company, according to M50 Concessions Ltd (M50 CL) which oversees the motorway.

A Wicklow man who had an accident on the M50 motorway in which he was lucky to escape unscathed received quite a shock in the post when he got a bill for €18,000. His car had caused considerable damage to a side barrier that runs along the side of the M50.

M50 CL operates and maintains the M50 through a Public-private partnership (PPP) contract with the National Roads Authority.

A spokesperson for the National Roads Authority told TheJournal.ie that as they understood it, damage caused in accidents where the driver is at fault they are liable for the damage. While if there is no identifiable person or cause for the accident the state foots the bill.

Speaking to TheJournal.ie M50 CL said the state would foot the bill on national roads managed by the local authority, while under PPP contracts the operator would be responsible for the repair and the costs associated.

They added that in events of roadway damage caused by identified third parties, M50 CL looks to recover its losses through communications with the third party’s insurance company only.

However when asked who would foot the bill if the driver had no insurance they said that the costs can be reclaimed from the MIBI (Motor Insurers Bureau Of Ireland) which provides compensation for damage caused by uninsured and unidentified vehicles.

While a bill for €18000 may seem hefty the M50 CL states:

The limit to be charged is the actual cost of repairing the damage caused.

They added they will always pursue an identified third party’s insurer for damage caused to M50 roadway elements for which M50CL is responsible for maintaining.

When asked what was the procedure in the case where a fatal road accident occurred causing damage they said that “fortunately, to date we have not had a fatal accident on the road we are responsible for maintaining”.

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38 Comments
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    Mute Padraic Lawless
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    Jun 10th 2012, 7:46 PM

    If people kept to the correct lane there would be less accidents!

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    Mute Stadler Waldorf
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    Jun 10th 2012, 8:15 PM

    And if people kept to correct grammar there would be fewer mistakes.

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    Mute Sheila Byrne
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    Jun 10th 2012, 10:05 PM

    If people kept to the speed, and gave a proper distance when pulling in in front of vehicle after passing there would be less accidents! Knowing that even when the speed limited is 100km in heavy rain slow bloody down to at least 70/80km! Ediots!

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    Mute Sara cahill
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    Jun 10th 2012, 10:17 PM

    What was wrong with that grammar?!

    69
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    Mute Aoife O'C
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    Jun 11th 2012, 8:45 AM

    If you’re being pedantic about it- and the commenter above undoubtedly was- “less accidents” should have been “fewer accidents.”

    This is because of a rule that says “less” is used for non-count nouns (words like sand, for example, where you can’t talk about “a sand, two sands” etc.) and “fewer” is used for count nouns (“an accident, two accidents,” etc.)

    While “less” is used in this context in speech and in casual writing to a huge extent (indicating that the rule is dying) it is technically incorrect in formal language. The fact that this rule is becoming less and less relevant to actual language use is nicely illustrated by the fact that you, a native speaker of English, were completely unaware of it.

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    Mute Padraic Lawless
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    Jun 11th 2012, 1:22 PM

    Making cheap digs at someones grammar while hiding behind a pseudonym. Good man. Back in your box now.

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    Mute Mark Larson
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    Jun 10th 2012, 7:58 PM

    People drive so fast on that motorway, €3 each way is a rip-off. That road is paid for 10 times over.

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    Mute Gabriel McManus
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    Jun 10th 2012, 9:09 PM

    What happens when public services are privatised, the new owners milk you for every penny, after lots of wonderful promises. So people are paying taxes but now they’re also paying separately for all the stuff their taxes used to pay for and all the money you pay in taxes is going towards grants for multinationals and tax breaks for the very wealthy, senior executive salaries, vanity building projects, bail bailouts etc, its a total scam, people need to know it is.

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    Mute Johnny Thunder
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    Jun 10th 2012, 9:11 PM

    Mark,
    Are you one of the self-appointed speed guardians who stick religiously to the overtaking lane to stop others from driving at their chosen speed ?

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    Mute Sean Mc Avinue
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    Jun 10th 2012, 9:53 PM

    What is too fast? Do you mean to suit road conditions, or over the speed limit? The RSA have increased the speed limit from 70mph to almost 75mph on certain motorways.

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    Mute Sheila Byrne
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    Jun 10th 2012, 10:08 PM

    @Mark Larson,

    It was only EUR2 when the tolls were there and people could pay there and then and not bloody forget 2 days lated and end up having to pay EUR12. That’s for someone not using it all the time and may just use it 2/3 times a month. Bring back the booths!

    31
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    Mute Mark Larson
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    Jun 10th 2012, 10:10 PM

    I don’t drive as i live in central London, ive seen how some drive on the M50 and way over the speed limit, and in and out of lanes, some crazy driving. You could never drive over the limit on the M25 in London as it is covered with speed cameras.

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    Mute Paul Kiely
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    Jun 11th 2012, 12:19 AM

    10 times more like 50

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    Mute Declan O Connor
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    Jun 11th 2012, 3:59 AM

    your man would repair the damage himself for a fraction of price. rip ofs

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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Jun 10th 2012, 8:30 PM

    Anyone else notice that women don’t use the left hand lane on 3 lane roads? Unless exiting of course…

    First noticed this on the day of the mini marathon when I came across what I though was a funeral procession on the M50. Huge line of cars in only the middle lane driving too slow and too close together. Alas it was only hoards of marathonetts on their way to the race (walk).

    All afraid to use mon-sat bus lanes on a Sunday too…

    Keep an eye out folks I’m not making this up…

    198
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    Mute Stephen Small
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    Jun 10th 2012, 9:08 PM

    I don’t think it just women, or people of a certain generation that are the problem.

    I think the fact that learner drivers are not taught how to drive on a dual carriageway, never mind a three lane motorway is the problem.

    Lane indiscipline is rife in Ireland. And people who call the outside lane the “fast lane” really get my goat up.

    129
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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Jun 10th 2012, 9:17 PM

    Don’t get me going about road hogging silver surfers in Toyota Avensis’….

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    Mute Sheila Byrne
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    Jun 10th 2012, 10:13 PM

    It not just silly women it’s very much men also! Friday afternoon, in pouring rain most ediots were driving 100km +!!! some like myself slightly slower, because there was no way of seeing more than a car length ahead of me. There was a male driver, pulling a caravan, in the middle lane, refused to pull into inside lane. When I actually passed him to avoid the spray he was throwing up, I looked across, he was drinking coffee/tea from a flask mug and eating a huge cookie!

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    Mute Dara Cromwell
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    Jun 10th 2012, 10:29 PM

    I disagree. There is a shit lot of drivers not only women that drive in the middle of 3 lanes. Mainly car drivers. Sickens me. Been a truck driver I end up undertaking cars not before I give a warning flash an blow the shite out of the horn….

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    Mute Nuffsaid Thatsall
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    Jun 11th 2012, 1:28 AM

    @ Sheila – I’m not trying to be a grammar / spelling Nazi here, but as you’ve spelt ‘idiots’ as ‘ediots’ twice now, you’ve got me curious…is it slang for something else or what!?!

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    Mute Sheila Byrne
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    Jun 11th 2012, 8:19 AM

    @ Nuffsaid Thatsall

    I do beg your pardon! I try my best to read over my comment a couple of times before posting, I am dyslexic. I wish journal.ie would allow us to re-write our comments if needs be.

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    Mute Michael J Hartnett
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    Jun 10th 2012, 8:47 PM

    Are the operators of the M50 insured if the road causes damage to a persons car. Can we get this clarified.

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    Mute john mack
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    Jun 10th 2012, 9:01 PM

    add delays to that, not having ramps gritted during snow and ice. or re-embursement of tolls when lucan exit was closed due to the queen. I hate using M50, if I have to be some place that’s important I’ll use other roads rather than risk tailbacks.

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    Mute Niall Mulligan
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    Jun 10th 2012, 9:50 PM

    Eh, what’s the problem. If you cause damage and are at fault then you pay the bill through your insurance policy. Accidental damage to a road barrier is the same as an accidental rear ending.

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    Mute Sean Mc Avinue
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    Jun 10th 2012, 11:19 PM

    cjmalone1969. It’s a long time since I took a bus but do CIE allow scaffolding planks and 8X4 sheets of ply, with a large steel box of tools? Ah I think I’ll stick to the van, but thanks anyway.

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    Mute Stephen Small
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    Jun 10th 2012, 11:48 PM

    Don’t feed the troll!!! ; )

    29
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    Mute Eamonn Nestor
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    Jun 10th 2012, 11:48 PM

    Yeah, I hate when the bus brakes and the top of the acrow comes flying out…

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    Mute Stephen Small
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    Jun 10th 2012, 10:20 PM

    Personally, I think it’s reasonable enough. If you do cause damage as a result of negligent driving, you should be liable for the cost of damage caused.

    But as other posters have mentioned, the service providers have a duty of care to the users of the M50 as well, which I personally think is lacking a lot of the time. And this is most evident come the winter months.

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    Mute Dara Cromwell
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    Jun 10th 2012, 10:32 PM

    I recon the repair companies have a lottery on this. They could put any amount through an they would pay up. I’d love to know how much a foot of barrier is….

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    Mute Krystian Brzezowski
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    Jun 10th 2012, 9:56 PM

    This totally understandable. I mean if you are driving carelessly than fork out. Well unless you will die than there is the problem. But I suppose not your anymore.

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    Mute Niall Mulligan
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    Jun 10th 2012, 9:57 PM

    If your fatally injured and liable your insurance still pays out for your liability. It’s pretty standard and nothing new to be honest.

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    Mute Conor Flood
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    Jun 10th 2012, 11:52 PM

    it sucks 3k a year from me. H.A.T.E……………………

    15
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    Mute Damocles
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    Jun 11th 2012, 8:51 AM

    The RSA are finally doing ads for people on motorways to tell them how to drive.

    Strange that this sort of thing isn’t covered when people were learning how to drive.

    12
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    Mute Margaret Mc Avinue
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    Jun 11th 2012, 12:21 PM

    Does that mean if your car is damaged due to potholes etc you can claim from them

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    Mute cjmalone1969
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    Jun 10th 2012, 10:52 PM

    Why don’t all you sad moaner drivers sell your car and take to walking, biking or public transport and then have a moan about that :)

    11
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    Mute dubsy
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    Jun 11th 2012, 11:00 AM

    I’d like to see you walking or cycling on the M50…. As for public transport: I haven’t seen any bus or LUAS stop on the M50 so far….

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    Mute Brian Tracy
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    Jun 11th 2012, 8:43 AM

    18,000 for a barrier?More likely 200 max & as for the labour involved this highway maintanence shower pay there staff by the week not the job.I could pick up a new car for 18,000 & a hell of a lot more work goes into that.

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    Mute Caroline Locke
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    Jun 28th 2012, 11:28 PM

    Scandalous.

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