Michael McAleer answers your queries
From S Delaney:
I'm unclear as to the legal stipulations regarding seatbelts and the age limit for front-seat passengers. I was always led to believe that there was a minimum age limit of 12 years on front seat passengers. However, a colleague now tells me that there's actually no legal limit. Is this true?
In short, yes. The law states that children over four years of age may occupy the front seat if they are using a safety belt or an appropriate child restraint (a child restraint is defined as a device designed for use by a child weighing 36 kg or less).
In fact, babies and children under four years may occupy a forward facing front seat if they use an appropriate child restraint. However, in the interests of safety, always ensure the front passenger airbag is switched off. If this cannot be done, the child should be placed in the back seats.
There's also a legal anomaly in the case of front-seat safety belts. A person aged 12 years or more who is under 150 cm in height is not required to use a seatbelt even if this is provided.
They are, of course, free to wear the belt, but people under this height are outside the limits of the safety belt design parameters, so there is a possibility that a belt could injury them in some circumstances.
For this reason, the law allows them to decide for themselves whether or to belt up. This is irrespective of whether they are sitting in the front or back of the vehicle.
From Aidan Clince, Co Wicklow:
I'm finding it difficult to get a clear answer on whether Bluetooth devices for mobile phones comply with the new legislation on hands-free mobile phone kits. Can you be of any help?
At present the law is unclear. There is no legislation on hand-held mobile phone kits at present. As with quite a lot of supposed new rules, while they were promoted in a great fanfare as proposals and accepted by many as the done deal, quite a lot of it has yet to be enacted.
As it stands, the proposals on hand-held devices - which could encompass Bluetooth phones - is before the Attorney General who is advising the Department of Transport. When an answer to the queries is finally forthcoming, we can only guess that Bluetooth technology will be dealt with at this stage.
It should be remembered that, as yet, it's not a separate offence to use a mobile phone while driving. This falls under the careless driving rules and thereby qualifies for five penalty points after a court appearance.
The plans, as outlined in the point regulations, are to bring in between one and three points for the offence. It was to be included in the recent Road Traffic Act but the complications over hand-held devices have held it up. The best advice I can give you, without daring to second guess the legal eagles at the Attorney General's office, is that Bluetooth systems pre-fitted to cars should escape under the net.
From F McGrath:
We've followed the car show write-ups in The Irish Times over recent years and we've finally decided to fulfil our petrol-head ambitions and take a trip to a car show. We know that Detroit is on now, but it's a bit outside out budget in any event. What's the best show to go to?
For value for money and sheer extravaganza, Frankfurt is probably the best value. Held every second year - every other year the show moves to Paris - the German show is simply enormous in terms of floorspace and showmanship. Rival German marques partake in a teutonic tussle, vying to outdo one another. In what can only be seen as phallic symbolism that some compare to car ownership, the manufacturers often spend vast fortunes on multi-storey stands and specially-built halls up to four storeys high in a "mine's bigger than yours" effort.
It's also the most relevant show for the European market. Frankfurt is an enormous festival of motoring. Visitors need to be in very fit, with sharp elbows.
The Geneva Motor Show is held each March. The upside is a show that's far more manageable in terms of acreage; the downside is that hotel prices and ancillaries can turn the trip into quite an expensive affair.
If you want a little comfort and wish to see the new cars from the major players, head for the Swiss city. If you want to appreciate the enormity of the industry in all its excessive splendour, head for Frankfurt.
If I was only going to one show, I would book one of the cheap flights available to Frankfurt and sharpen up on my obscure car marques.
The Geneva show runs from March 3rd to 13th. Detail are available at www.salon-auto.ch The German show is on from September 15th to 5th. Details at www.iaa.de
Send your queries to
Motors Help Desk, The Irish Times, Fleet Street, Dublin 2 - or e-mail them to motorshelp@irish-times.ie