Like any experienced driver, officials and politicians are always looking for the quickest route to their intended destination, provided it is safe.
So it should not surprise anyone that the navigators of Ireland's roadmap out of the Covid-19 restrictions chose to veer suddenly onto an alternative faster track on Friday afternoon.
Indeed, in hindsight the potential change of plan had been subtly signposted throughout the week leading up to the decision.
On Friday afternoon, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told the nation that, after consultation between cabinet and the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) at Dublin Castle on Thursday evening, he now believes "we are heading in the right direction".