On the road to Glasgow

Irish Car+Travel is on a bit of a road trip this weekend that should be a lot of laughs, writes Brian Byrne. Literally. I'm in Glasgow for the International Comedy Festival, from which I hope to show just how much buzz there is in the city at any time, and that it's a viable run for a weekend for us down here in Ireland.

You can fly here, of course, but we're into cars, so I drove up from mid-Kildare this morning in my car for the week, the Ford Kuga Titanium S. More on the car when I review it, but it proved a fine machine for galloping almost 400km on a solo drive.

Getting to Larne from home was around three hours, including a missed turn on the M2 in Belfast, and the P&O ferry to Cairnryan is a very pleasant one and three-quarter hours that nicely breaks the journey before the less than two hours more it takes to get to what has long been the commercial capital of Scotland.

It is so easy to drive into Glasgow centre, with the M8 going through the middle of the city and offering quick exits to whatever part you want to go. Sure, I know there are perceived downsides to having motorways 'splitting' cities, but in this case it makes it really easy for the motorist traveller.

Too soon to provide details of the city, but I have a full itinerary planned for the weekend by VisitScotland, and I'll be uploading regularly as I get along. There'll be my own pictures too, but in the meantime thanks to Scottfree92 for the city compilation above.

My hotel is very modern inside, but in a 19th century building that has an awful lot of industrial, and particularly electrical history underpinning it. More on this, and on everything else, over the next few days.

Meantime, I've just received an invite to food and a 'dram'. Already this is as friendly a city as I've been in for a long time.

Later ...

Driving rules for France

With the holidays here, many people will be driving on the continent this summer. For those planning a driving holiday in France, here are some rules you should know before setting off on your journey, courtesy of the IAM.

* In France, all drivers and motorcyclists need to carry a breathalyser kit with two disposable breathalysers. They must meet the NF standards and carry an NF certification. The french government have postponed the fine for non compliance but you still have to have one.

* The drink drive limit in France is 50mg per 100ml of blood. If you're driving, don't drink, and beware the morning after effect.

* On-the-spot fines or 'deposits' in France are severe. An official receipt should always be issued. Vehicles parking contrary to regulations may be towed away and impounded.

* Holders of EU driving licences exceeding the speed limit by more than 40km/h will have their licences confiscated on the spot by the police.

* You must carry a warning triangle, reflective jacket, and convert your headlamps when driving in France. It's recommended you carry spare light bulbs if you can fit them easily.

* Driving on the right hand side of the road on unknown routes can be rather challenging. Take regular breaks, and always have a rest if you are getting sleepy.

* A child sitting in the front passenger seat must be at least 10 years old (or a baby up to 9 months in a rear-facing child seat).

*Radar speed camera detectors are illegal in France whether or not you are using them. This legislation includes sat nav systems which show speed camera information.

You should make sure your car is fit for the journey, plan your route in advance, including fuel stops, and remember your breathalysers.

Do's and Don'ts of driving in Australia

Tourists who intend to drive here in Australia should first take time to get to know the rules of the road that pertain here, writes Trish Whelan from Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia.

While there are eight states and territories in this huge country, road rules are largely the same, which is good news if you travel around.

Many visitors fail to realise just how big this country really is and that the distances between towns vary significantly with distances between the major cities even greater. Conditions can be very hot and dry, with fuel and food not always available for miles and miles. Make sure you hire a car with a big tank, and a large boot!

Pictured above: Innes National Park, near Marian Bay on the Yorke Penninsula, about five hours drive out of Adelaide.

Postcard from Naarden

In fairness, Holland is not a scenic place, writes Brian Byrne. Driving in the hinterland of Amsterdam is a flat experience, literally and emotionally. Especially in the middle of winter, when the wind coming in from the North Sea doesn't encourage getting out of the car for long.

But just as you can do anywhere, it is possible to stumble on a little gem. Like the tiny town of Naarden, a beautifully maintained relic of the 17th century.

It is surrounded by water. Most places in this part of Holland are, given that there are probably more canals than in Venice, part of an extensive system to keep the land from being recovered by the sea. However, Naarden is also a uniquely preserved star fort, one no longer used for military purposes but which gives the place a character unlike any town of its size I have been.

Entrance and exit are across bridges, so there is a sense of enclosure when you arrive. And it wouldn't take long to drive through, so it is worthwhile taking the first free parking space you can find.

Shops are small, very high quality, and often show a fine level of artistry in their window dressing. The main street also features one of Holland's oldest churches, the Great Church, well-known for the classical music performances in its wonderful acoustics. There's also a fine Town Hall dating to 1601.

But the fascinating part is the fortifications, which incorporate an extraordinary complex of military buildings, built on by grass-covered earth which today provide high level parklands for walking and games, as well as views back out towards the sea at one side. Demilitarised in the 1920s, most of the buildings have been restored and converted to various community uses.

These include Holland's Fort Museum, restaurants, offices, design studios and shops. So, if the wind militates against spending too much time on top, a retreat can be made underground.

In our case, time was far too short to get to see all that was available in a place where a very pleasant day could easily be spent, preferably in a balmier time of the year. But it is bookmarked for a future visit.

N-road tolls 'absurd', says AA Ireland

The AA has described the proposal to apply toll charges to the non-motorway N-Road network as absurd and has called on the government to rule it out immediately.

The proposal is included in the measures put forward by the Local Government Efficiency Review Group report published by the Minister for Environment, Heritage & Local Government today. Those measures include a number of straightforward tax increases for motorists, such as a 60% increase in the cost of a driving licence, but by far the biggest concern is the notion of new toll booths on the country’s roads.

The AA says just one cent per litre added to the excise duty on petrol and diesel, it would raise more money for the State (about €25 million) than these proposed tolls.

In order to collect tolls on N-roads, the state would have to invest in the capital cost of installing toll booths, barriers and the toll collection system. This is extremely expensive and would be even more so on the N-road network than it is on Motorways that do not have side-roads. Diversion is already a serious problem caused by motorway tolls and this would be far worse on the N-road network.

The AA is also uncomfortable with the proposed increases in motor tax (for those who do not pay online) and in the cost of a driving licence.

“These have nothing to do with the efficiency of local government,” says director of policy Conor Faughnan. “They are just tax increases.”

Tolling National Routes: 'fraud, corruption and abuse'

If nothing else that this current Government has done has been enough to really have them physically turfed out of their cosy leather Dail seats, then any attempt to extend tolling from our motorways to ordinary National Routes should do it.

If we allow it, writes Brian Byrne, we will be pitching our constitutional freedom to travel right back into the era of the turnpike roads of the 18/19th centuries, a period of 129 years when 'trustee' boards of local landlords and politicians became the 'legitimate' equivalent of 'stand-and-deliver' highwaymen, fleecing travellers as they passed through their districts.

Tolling National Routes: the Madness continues

The Government is reported to have signed off on a toll roads extension which would effectively pitch travellers on Irish roads back into the 18th century, writes Brian Byrne.

And another item in the package would discriminate against motorists who don't use computers or internet, by penalising them for not paying motor tax online. This is Ryanair taking over the roads ...

According to the Irish Times this morning, extending tolls to national routes in addition to the motorways is part of a €500m savings package proposed by the Local Government Efficiency Group.

The Group says this move would be consistent with Government policy on the environment, to 'incentivise' motorists to use other transport. It also suggests that it would provide an 'income stream' to local authorities to maintain roads.

Are they mad? Or merely desperate?

Both, probably. More on this later.

Waterford By-Pass opens

The new Waterford By-Pass is being officially opened today.

The road is the first of five new toll roads being introduced between now and the end of next year.

First motorists will be allowed drive over the new bridge over the Suir at Waterford after 4.30pm, following the lunchtime opening of the by-pass, which is 23km long and cost in excess of €500m.

The bridge is the longest cable-stayed such construction in the state.

Motorists using the independent tolling and parking system operated by Easytrip can use the by-pass with their existing electronic tags.

Ireland resists traffic management standard

Ireland is one of a number of countries resisting an EU Framework Directive aimed at making traffic management systems in a standard way across Europe. From Computing.co.uk