HELP DESK. Michael McAleer helps readers with their motoring problems.
Last week's correspondent was right to advocate use of dipped headlamps in conditions of poor visibility in daytime. In fact the law already requires drivers to do so and bans the use of foglights except in fog or falling snow.
What is more controversial though is the use of headlights during normal daytime conditions. Motorcycles are by their nature harder to see than other vehicles, and many riders already use dipped headlights in an attempt to counteract this.
But if most or all cars are lit up during daytime as well, then motorcycles will be harder to see than ever, disappearing in a sea of lights. Pedestrians and cyclists, too, would be very much at a disadvantage because lights draw the eyes towards them and away from unlit objects and people. In short, "Bright isn't always right". We should be training all road users to have better observation skills, rather than just slapping lights on willy-nilly. If one does not look, one will not see.
Eoin Kirwan, MAG Ireland - The Irish Motorcylists' Action Group
Driving on "parking lights" should be outlawed. It's illegal outside Ireland and Britain. The British introduced a DIMDIP system many years ago which made impossible to drive on parking lights. If parking lights were selected and the ignition switched on, reduced power dipped lights came on. The EU fruitcakes directed them to drop this requirment as anti-competitive. Thousands of vehicles sold in Ireland came with this very sensible fitting which I'm sure cost only pennies to manufacture. It's time to return to it now.
Ted Murphy
Another week, another mailbag on lights on daytime. All very valid points, in particular the issue of lights drawing the eyes towards them, to the detriment of pedestrians and motorcylcists. Included in all this should be the cyclists, who are difficult to see at the best of times, even with their luminous jackets.
Why has Dublin zoo no car park or bus park? Surely this is dangerous, and poor planning.
Fergal Reidy, Celbridge
Dublin Zoo's facilities manager, Paul Maher, tells us that directly in front of their gates is a public car park, though it's part of the park rather than the zoo. While it may get crowded in summer, there is also parking on the hard shoulders of the various roads that run through the park.
Aside from the zoo, HELP DESK would be interested to hear from those who use the Phoenix Park as a makeshift "park and ride" facility, then using the buses to get into town from there. How secure is it and is this an option to ease congestion in the city?
Are there any Alfa Suds left in Ireland? I have fond memories of these lovely cars and would dearly love to find out if there are any left in the country?
John Ryan, Wexford
There are many fans of this lovely car. However, they seemed to have disappeared from the roads of Ireland, mainly because of a poor ability to handle the wet Irish climate. We welcome any information on existing Alfa Suds.