MICHAEL McALEER answers your questions.
From J O'Dwyer:
Is Operation Freeflow the most over-ambitiously titled project in the State to date? This year's operation has been surrounded by the usual media hype, yet for all the talk of park and ride facilities, only two were operational during the first few days, while the one at the Spawell is not open until next week.
Similarly the one in Whitehall is reportedly "up for public consultation". Why are they only getting round to consulting people now? Did someone in the traffic office suddenly remember at the end of November that Christmas falls at this time of year?
There's no simple answer to Dublin's traffic problems, and many of them are ingrained in our transport infrastructure. Certainly there are some good plans and ideas laid out in various reports and proposals.
However, in our short time in this job, we've seen many well-intentioned reports and plans before; all of which looked good on paper but few make it to reality for a variety of reasons.
In fairness to the Garda, they are often at the front-end, getting all the grief from motorists.
The problem is much deeper than policing. We need permanent park-and-ride facilities in the city, not just the tokenism that takes place at this time of the year.
From F O'Neill:
When will there be a replacement for the current version of the Mercedes E-Class?
It is some time off still. The next generation is likely to take its design cue from the new S-Class, but with Mercedes busying itself with new model launches it will be at least another couple of years before we see a new E-Class on our roads.
From S Monahan:
I've had a bit of a contretemps with a school warden recently. Without going into the details of my case, I basically called into question whether this lady had the right to dictate driving habits in my area and seemingly hold up traffic at her whim. Do these wannabe gardaí have any right to stop traffic in the first place?
Whatever about your particular gripe with the school traffic warden, they do have the right to stop you to allow children to cross.
School wardens are appointed by the local authorities with the support of the Garda. Legally they are the only officials in Ireland who have the authority to stop other vehicles on public roads.
They have the legal backing of the Road Traffic Act, 1961. The wardens must carry a distinctive sign a white disc with a red border and the words "Stop" in the centre.
School Traffic Wardens can only stop vehicles on a public road if they are wearing the appropriate uniform and exhibiting the appropriate sign. Failing to stop for a school warden is an offence.
From Mary Harley:
How can I find a driving instructor I can trust? It seems from reports that anyone can set themselves up as an instructor provided they have a full driving licence? Surely there needs to be some protection for consumers.
It's a ridiculous situation at present. There is no effective regulation of instructors, though there are plans to do so. However, it joins the long list of other plans that have yet to come to fruition.
For now, perhaps the best way to ensure some form of qualification of an instructor is to contact the Driving Instructors Register of Ireland, an independent body that has attempted to bring some order to the situation.
You can get more details at www.dir.ie Otherwise, I'm afraid you will have to depend on word of mouth from colleagues and friends. For everyone's sake, this situation has to be rectified as quickly as possible. If we are to improve road safety, the regulation of instructors and the introduction of compulsory basic training for all provisional licence holders are basic requirements.
From Teresa Murphy:
I was bemused and annoyed to see Cillian Ó Donnachadha complain about the cost of his motorcycle insurance and then later in the interview he admits that he has carried a passenger, even though he is on a provisional licence - does he not realise it is illegal for him to carry a passenger and that because of the idiots who do carry passengers and who are not licensed or insured to carry passengers the rest of us law abiding motorcyclists are forced to pay the cost by paying such high insurance.
It has long been a source of annoyance to me to see so many clearly young drivers carrying passengers on scooters that they can barely hold up themselves, and who are clearly not familiar with the rules of the road and the conditions of their provisional motorcycle licence. Do the gardaí not have the interest or the power to prosecute these drivers?
They certainly have the power, but by your comments the will is certainly open to question.