Michael McAleeranswers your questions
From Michael Cullen:For some time now, there has been an interesting set of warning signs on the N11, just north of Ferns in Co Wexford.
On either end of a rather poorly surfaced stretch of road, there are orange signs reading: Speed Advisory 50km/h.
There is some evidence of work being carried out at this location (I have only passed by on weekend evenings).
Taking this in combination with the colour of the sign, I presume that this is a roadworks message.
However, I can find no reference to advisory speeds in my shiny new Rules of the Road.
I am left wondering whether it carries any legal weight, and what is its precise purpose?
The "speed advisory" limit is just that: advice. It carries no legal weight, but is a suggested speed limit that is usually applied around roadworks.
Therefore the "legal" limit on these stretches of road remains the same. On a national road, that may mean 100km/h, but you must ask yourself whether such a speed is appropriate when driving through a set of roadworks.
The aim is to get motorists to slow down in an area where there are people at work by the roadside, and where the layout of the road may have been temporarily adjusted.
Councils use these speed advisory notices, but they are not enforced by the Garda. However, that does not mean that they should be ignored.
Councils have the right to put in place temporary enforceable limits at roadworks, and the difference is that these speed limit signs will be the usual black writing on a white background with a red rim on the circular sign. These are legal limits, and enforced by the Garda.
From Paul D:Are motorists obliged by law to obey hand signals to stop by building site construction workers to allow often slow-moving works vehicles and mucky trucks to pull out on to the road?
I've sometimes found myself stuck behind slow-moving vehicles, some of which leave dangerous amounts of mud on the road, and others that do not appear to have registration plates or brake and indicator lights. Are there any controls over this?
According to the Citizens Information website, apart from law enforcement officers, "school traffic wardens are the only officials in Ireland who have the authority to stop other vehicles on public roads". However, it would seem to be common sense and courtesy to assist other road users.
As for dirt on the road, Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993 states that it is an offence to allow stones, clay or any other material to remain on a public road where doing so would cause a hazard or potential hazard to people using the road, and obstruct or interfere with the safe use of the road.
Like many laws relating to our roads, it would seem a certain relaxation of the rules applies here.
As for registration plates and lights, if they are missing or don't work, then the vehicles are clearly breaking the law, and should not be on the road.
From I Baker:I'm in the process of buying a used car and after several visits to dealers I have it down to either a used Mazda6 or an Opel Vectra.
I'm particularly concerned about future resale values, as I am only in Ireland for two years before moving back to Britain, and I don't plan to bring a car home from here, for obvious reasons.
I've been reliably informed that I can't bring a car over from Britain for this length of time if I am living and working here without re-registering it and incurring a hefty tax bill.
I'm just looking for a family-sized car to get us around, and one that can handle poor road conditions without ending up in the garage every few months.
The advice on tax is right, though if you have owned the car abroad for over six months and resided in the UK during that time, then you are no longer liable to pay VRT when re-registering the car.
Of the two cars you are considering, I would have to side with the Mazda for its record of reliability and relatively strong resale values.
You don't mention the engine sizes you are looking at, but I would advise you not to go for the larger engines as they are not as strong in the resale market as they would be in Britain.
Both cars are up for replacement by new models in the next few months, with a new Mazda6 set for launch at the Frankfurt motor show next week and the new Opel Vectra due to be revealed at next spring's Geneva motor show. These will impact on resale values.
That brings little comfort to you, but the new Vectra is arguably the greatest leap forward, with much softer styling lines if we are to go on the test cars that have been spotted recently (see Motors, May 23, 2007).
The Vectra is a good car, but Mazda is a well-respected brand on the Irish market, and should help you when it comes time to sell and move back.
Send your queries to Motors Helpdesk, The Irish Times, Tara St, Dublin 2, or e-mail motorshelp@irish-times.ie