Motorists told to light up or pay up
Light Up: Garda Pat Melody of the divisional traffic corps on duty in Corbally during last week's operation. Picture: Dave Gaynor
GARDAI are warning motorists they will face on-the spot fines if they are caught driving with defective or broken light bulbs on their cars.
The warning that €60 fines will be issued comes following a 24-hour operation last week during which garda checkpoints were set up across the Limerick garda division.
The aim of Operation “Light Up” was to highlight the significant issue of defective, broken, missing and inappropriate use of vehicle lighting.
According to recent figures thousands of vehicles fail the NCT test in Limerick every year due to difficulties with lights.
During last week’s operation members of the traffic corps specifically targeted and intercepted drivers who had defective lighting as well as those who were using fog lights inappropriately.
“Too many people are lax when one light or bulb blows but the simple reality is that your range of vision is severely compromised, plus others may find it difficult to see you. In simple terms, a one headlight car could be mistaken for a motorcycle or make it impossible for you too see that pedestrian out walking because you have reduced your range of vision by 50%,” said Assistant Commissioner Gerard Phillips.
While garda will be clamping down on vehicles with defective lights, Noel Brett of the Road Safety Authority says the inappropriate use of fog lights is also a major concern.
“I would also like to remind motorists to only use their front and rear fog lights in dense fog and to switch off in clear weather. Similarly, front and rear fog lamps should only be used in dense fog or falling snow. Never use front or rear fog lights in normal driving conditions as they tend to dazzle other road users,” he said.
So far this year, three people have died on Limerick roads.
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Weather for Limerick
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Today
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Temperature: 10 C to 18 C
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