South Meath Driving School

The black cube that is the traditional voting box is again fully restored to its former glory after a scare from its electronic prototype. Our diligent registrars will be busy sorting and counting results in a next few weeks time. The boxes come back at great cost after some brainiacs practically discarded them in the belief that they’d had their day, but, unsightly and all as they are, they’re probably back for the long haul. Do spare a thought for the canvassers, some of whom can be heard humming ‘And that old triangle went jingle jangle …’ All politics being local, I have a small problem for one of them to fix, before I cast any dye. Its about a yellow box.

The yellow scrawls that are to be seen at many junctions and crossroads are not to be taken for granted. Those are yellowbox junctions, simply painted yellow for easier visibility with their criss-cross lines. They allow traffic to egress from a minor road in busy conditions. That box of paint is a substitute for a traffic light or even a pointsman. Quite a simple idea it was and the box carries a lot of weight. Too many drivers ignore their proper use, but, in another while there will be penalty points secured for breaching the rules, so be warned.

The main rule applying is that you must not enter the box junction unless you can clear it without stopping. The exception to this rule is that you may enter the box and stop in it, intending to turn right and are prevented from doing so by oncoming traffic. Theres little mention anywhere on those subjects of the situation where you wish to turn left in the yellow box.

A good example is at Watergate St., Navan: you are exiting from Abbey Road and must turn left into a two lane carriageway. It’s one way and traffic is piled up, but the box is empty. There, you enter the box and occupy it at an angle, maybe, facing into either lane, space being at a premium. Similarly, when exiting from Patrick St., Trim, onto the bypass to turn left: if traffic is built up the box should be clear so use the opportunity to enter it to turn left.

Have you attempted to exit onto the bypass from Newtown Rd (Marcies Rd) at Whitelodge around 3.30pm to 6.30pm. The whole junction is wide enough to accommodate a ceili band and a crowd at a crossroads dance, but what have we got?
Two narrow lanes, one to enter, one to exit, flanked on either side by large grass margins and footpaths. Traffic on the bypass going towards Athboy is lined from the lights back down towards the Boyne. So anyone wishing to turn right off the Newtown Rd is stranded and moves at the will of those on the main road. If that isn’t bad enough, what of the driver wishing to turn left there? He’s blocked by those turning right, there being only one lane to exit. How can it be improved? Add an extra lane for those turning left and paint a yellow box on the town side of the bypass. It wont cure but the logjam but it would be a vast improvement. It is irritating for locals, especially, to be constantly delayed for long periods at this junction. The space is already there, let it be used.

So when the canvasser calls to your door, keep the problem local: forget about NAMA and the lack some parties symbols on the posters, introduce ‘Up the Junction’ at awhitelodge. At least we can live on a promise in times like these.

Mick Morris is probably better known in the Bective/Navan area than most sitting councillors and, indeed, many a man or woman with problems more wide ranging than that political, have gone to him for advice and in most cases resolution. He gave so much to football that for any one game he lined the field, put up nets, manned the gate and then refereed the match itself. Everyone knows the colour of his leanings but we’ll stay silent on it here. In any case, Mr Morris was going to a funeral in Navan accompanied by Jim Fitzsimons who then represented us in Europe. On entering the church, they moved to the book of condolences: the politician signed it Jim Fitzsimons MEP, the all-rounder Mick signed it Mick Morris OAP.