Michael McAleer answers your questions
From Kevin McDonald: This morning at approx 4:30am I was travelling eastbound on the N4. I kept to the speed limit after the Leixlip exit. I travel this route regularly. As I passed the camera opposite The Spa Hotel another car overtook me and it was well over the speed limit. The camera flashed twice and I'm left wondering will I be prosecuted along with the other driver. How can the camera tell the difference?
According to the Garda press office, the cameras can tell the difference. The reason for the two flashes is that two photos are taken. They are matched to the intervals marked on the road - the white stripes you see at the spot. "Comparisons are made regarding the distance travelled between the two flashes and this will show to the Gardai, which car was speeding - or even if both cars were speeding.
From S Barry: I'm looking to buy a used Ford Focus. Should I look to buy private or through a dealership? I don't have a car to sell on as my daughter is taking it. Any tips for buying used?
After watching the recent Prime Time programme on the car industry, one would get the impression that it's a nightmare trying to buy a used car these days. In fact it does require a good deal of wariness on the part of the buyer, what with clocking, cut-and-shut (where the undamaged parts of two crashed cars are welded together) and false paperwork.
However, for every unscrupulous sale there are hundreds of honest ones. Once you've identified a car that you are interested in, the key in all instances is to get as much history on the car as possible.
If there's a service record, be sure to ring the garage listed and ask about the service carried and the car's mileage at the time. If the car's averaged 10,000 miles a year up until the last service and then suddenly hasn't done 2,000 miles in the last two years, be sure you are happy with the reason why.
Also don't be afraid to contact the previous owners, particularly the earlier ones who have no personal interest in misleading you. It's also vital that you get a good test drive in the car. While this seems like a ridiculous statement of fact, it's surprising the number of cars that are sold with the new owners never actually taking the car for a drive.
With the likes of the Ford Focus, there are plenty of them on the market so shop around and check prices elsewhere before you ever go to test a car. The Focus is also a popular hire car and these will start to come onto the market after the summer and there will be some good deals on low mileage models through dealerships.
As to the choice of buying through a private sale or dealership, provided everything is in order, both are pretty sound. You can save money by buying private and there is generally more room to haggle on price, but there is a stronger degree of security when buying from a dealer as you always have a place to go if there are problems. Many dealers will also offer a warranty with used cars, something you obviously don't get in a private sale.
The problems of clocking and false paperwork do exist, so be wary. The industry is addressing this problem, developing a service in conjunction with Experian, a British credit reference agency that is expected to be in operation later this year.
It will allow motor traders access an online system that will provide them with information needed to accurately assess a used car. It's hoped it will be offered to the public - for a nominal charge - shortly after its introduction.
Sadly there is no national database of vehicle mileage for now. Although the National Car Test service does record mileage at every test, it will not share that information with any third party, including a dealer or private buyer. Neither will the insurance companies.
You can, however, get just such information on cars imported from Britain through a company called HPI. Details are on their website: hpicheck.com
Finally, some of the most sensible and wary buyers around are often suckered into buying a car if the price is right.
A good rule of thumb with all car deals is that - as with all things in life- if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. I hope that helps in some way and doesn't scare you off.
From Valerie Duncan, Monkstown, Co Dublin: Regarding Tim O'Brien's article last week (Motors, February 15th) on the problem with non-adhesive pay and display tickets, one solution is to affix an empty tax disc holder to the window and slot the ticket into that - or maybe someone will produce an appropriately-sized holder.
Good idea; alternatively they could just put the adhesive glue back on and save us all the bother.
Send your queries to: Motors Helpdesk, The Irish Times, D'Olier St, Dubin 2 - or e-mail motorshelp@irish-times.ie