Checkpoints; road rage; large vehicles; hammering diesel

Eddie,

I’ve been reading you for years and I think you are doing a great job but you need to be more critical of the gardai. Or rather I should say the people who pay their wages – the government.

I don’t know when I saw a checkpoint (right), except from some high-publicity and well-flagged ones.

We need to get back to a few years ago when we were fearful of being caught with drink or on the phone at the wheel.

So come on Eddie, start the push for a greater Garda presence.

Ruairi, Meath

Eddie,

As a woman who commutes a lot I am terrified of the behaviour of some other drivers. They are not all men in case you think I am going to blame them alone. What can be done to reduce the level of angst and threat on the road? I’ve had fists waved at me by drivers at least three times this year. It is a shocking experience. I’d go further and say it is traumatising. Miriam, Dublin

Eddie,

I was driving in my local (Carlow) area recently and was quite shocked at the size of tractors and trailers on the road after dark. I know farmers have to work long and late and I must say the vehicles were really well lit. But people need to realise how wide and large these vehicles can be and should be extremely wary of overtaking. A little patience is required.

Joe, Carlow

Eddie,

I have to have a diesel car as I put up more than 45,000km a year. How can a government punish me for driving about my business by slapping on a 1pc surcharge on new diesels? They are getting a fortune from me in VRT, VAT and excise duties already.

William, Galway