BYAILEEN MURPHY

People who drive around Fermanagh with glaring blue headlights are being reminded that they are breaking the law.

The matter was raised at a recent meeting of Fermanagh District Policing Partnership, when Councillor Domhnall Ó Cobhthaigh asked Chief Inspector Barton: "The winter months bring their own particular difficulties for drivers, but there is a growing issue in the community in relation to the number of drivers who seem to be flouting the vehicle lighting regulations.

"A number of individuals have approached me in my capacity as a DPP Member and raised this issue. Certainly, the number of vehicles with defective headlights seems to be on the increase. Some drivers are compensating for this defect by driving on main beam even when approaching other vehicles or driving on fog lights, others are driving with one 'dipped' light.

"This is particularly dangerous where the offside headlight is defective and oncoming vehicles believe they are meeting a motorcycle. In one case, a driver recounted an incident of a 'near miss' because of these defective lights," he continued.

He then asked Chief Inspector Barton: "Can you advise me of the number of detections for lighting offences in Fermanagh in the last six months and how were they dealt with?

"There is also a feeling in the community that these people flouting the lighting other vehicular construction regulations can do so because of the reduced patrolling in the rural areas. Do police patrols still give the same emphasis to this type of offence?"

Mr Barton told him he did not have the statistics for lighting detections in the County. However, he explained it was an issue which was becoming easier for police to deal with, as it is now simply a matter of issuing the driver with a fixed penalty notice, meaning they have to pay a fine.

Mr Barton said he has used Mr Ó Cobhthaigh's written question as a trigger to advise all officers that this was a matter causing concern to the public within the County.

He said some drivers do have blue headlights installed in their cars, but he was quite clear on the legislation regarding this: "The law states a vehicle is supposed to have white lights to the front of a vehicle."

He further appealed for people to keep their cars in good working order: "It could cost a life if you don't maintain your vehicle properly. Discipline yourself to go and get a light when it blows and get it in.

"The 'one-eyed monster' is a term which is regularly used, and it can be very difficult if you are approaching a vehicle like this on the road."